The Politics of Trade

Lately the European Union’s trade policy has been buffeted by internal and external forces. Internally, the implications of Brexit, member state restrictions on the export of personal protective equipment at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the politicization around the TTIP negotiations have rattled European Union trade politics. External forces have also challenged the European Union’s trade policy, including above all Donald Trump’s hostility to free trade and multilateralism and the greater economic assertiveness of China. These developments have translated into more complicated politics of trade with civil society groups, firms and subnational parliaments vying to influence policy. At the same time new issues have gained prominence on the trade agenda, including digital trade, sanctions, carbon border adjustment mechanism, and the taxation of transnational corporations. In this context, the EU’s trade policy has powered ahead. Its unilateral trade and regulatory policies affect economic activity beyond its borders, it has continued to conclude bilateral trade agreements – not least with the UK – while championing the multilateral trading system. The “Politics of Trade” Section is dedicated to analyzing these and other trade policy issues, broadly understood. We are open to all theoretical and methodological approaches. We welcome paper and particularly full panel proposals. Prospective participants should not hesitate to contact the Chairs for informal inquiries.