Commission’s report on trade and investment barriers shows rising protectionism

Today, the European Commission has released the ‘Report on Trade and Investment Barriers’ stating that 36 more trade barriers were created in 2016. This amounts to an overall increase of 10% bringing the current total number of trade obstacles to 372. This could affect EU exports that are currently worth around 27 billion Euro. G20 members figure prominently among countries having created the highest number of import obstacles. Thanks to its effective Market Access Strategy, the Commission however succeeded in 2016 to remove as many as 20 different obstacles hindering European exports. Commenting on the report, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said: “We clearly see that the scourge of protectionism is on the rise. It affects European firms and their workers. […] At the upcoming G20 summit in Hamburg, the EU will urge leaders to walk the talk and resist protectionism. Europe will not stand idly by and will not hesitate to use the tools at hand when countries don’t play by the rules.” The ‘Trade and Investment Barriers Reports’ are published annually since the beginning of the 2008 economic crisis. This year’s edition is fully based on concrete complaints received by the Commission from European companies. They concern a wide range of products covering everything from agri-food to shipbuilding industries. A press release andmore information on trade barriers will be online as of 12h30