IMPLICATIONS OF THE LISBON TREATY ON EU EXTERNAL TRADE POLICY
March 2010The EU Centre in Singapore has published a background paper on the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the external trade policy of the European Union. The Lisbon Treaty has given the EU the legal personality to negotiate and conclude international treaties. External trade policy will now become an integral part of the EU external action globally. In introducing changes to make the EU trade policy more comprehensive and more democratic, what would be the implications for EU trade relations with third countries?  Read more...

MALAYSIA LIFTS CUMBERSOME TESTING REQUIREMENTS ON CHEESE FROM EU MEMBER STATES
08/03/2010 On 1 February 2010, Malaysia lifted its cumbersome testing requirements on consignments of imported cheese from EU Member States. The European Commission welcomes this step. It had repeatedly expressed its concerns about this unnecessary and unjustifiable requirement. On 1 July 2008, Malaysia introduced a compulsory certificate of analysis for the bacterial parameter Listeria monocytogenes on every imported consignment of cheese adopting a 'zero-tolerance' policy. This measure was applied to all imports of soft and semi-soft cheese made from pasteurised milk and all types of cheese made from unpasteurised milk. Malaysia claimed this to be an important safeguard measure. Read more...

SINGAPORE RANKED 7TH IN THE WORLD FOR INNOVATION
05/03/2010SINGAPORE is the seventh most innovative economy in the world, ahead of the likes of Japan and the United States, according to the latest Global Innovation Index (GII). While Scandinavian nations such as Sweden and Denmark dominated the top 10 rankings, the Lion City emerged as the second most innovative in Asia after Hong Kong, which came in third. Read more...

EU TO START BILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH SINGAPORE
03/03/2010EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang met today to officially launch negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and Singapore. The first round of negotiations is scheduled to take place from 8 – 12 March 2010 in Singapore. The EU-Singapore FTA (EUSFTA) marks a milestone in the EU's longstanding relations with Singapore.  Read more...

INDONESIA LIFTS IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON PORK PRODUCTS
01/03/2010Following interventions by the Commission, on 11 February 2010 Indonesia lifted all temporary import restrictions, imposed on pork products from EU Member States, based on measures due to pandemic H1/N1 influenza virus. Read more...