Report on implementation of Free Trade Agreements 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2017

Summary:

On 31 October 2018 the European Commission presented a report on the implementation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in 2017. The report is accompanied by a Staff Working Document presenting reports and information sheets on individual FTAs.

Further information:

Bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs) are major drivers of economic growth. Through harnessing globalisation, they bring important benefits for the people and companies in the European Union (EU) and in partner countries. FTAs are major contributors to the EU's external trade performance as they open up new markets for exporters and offer a more predictable, rules-based business environment beneficial to consumer choice and competition.

As the number of trade agreements concluded by the EU has been increasing, so has public interest in their impacts. To analyse the real and potential benefits of major trade agreements, the Commission in its 2015 Communication Trade for all: Towards a more responsible trade and investment policy committed to take stock annually on how these agreements are being implemented, shedding light on progress but also the challenges that remain and the steps the Commission is taking so that FTAs can reach their full potential.

In line with the first report published in November 2017 this second annual report on FTA implementation is meant to increase awareness and transparency on how the Commission implements FTAs. The report should enable the other EU institutions, EU Member States, civil society, business and everyone with a stake in EU trade policy to scrutinise and debate how the EU is applying its FTAs. The information gathered through this exercise will also inform future trade negotiations.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: SWD(2018)454: Individual reports and information sheets on implementation of EU Free Trade Agreements https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2018:454:FIN

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