Implementation of foreign trade policy in the European Union

The shaping of the foreign trade policy of the European Union is the responsibility of the Commission, with the exception of some areas of service trade (cultural and audiovisual services, educational, social, and health care services) which are the shared responsibility of the Member States and the Commission. The competence of the Commission in the field of foreign trade essentially means that the Member States give the Commission a mandate through the Council to conduct negotiations. On the basis of the mandate, the Commission makes proposals to the Council for the implementation of the common foreign trade policy.

Trade Policy Committee

The Trade Policy Committee works on two levels – full members and deputy members. Work in the Committee is organised as follows:

  • sessions are held weekly on Fridays at the level of deputy members (as a rule, a representative from the Brussels office of the Member State) and once a month on Fridays at the level of full members (as a rule, a representative from the capitals of the Member States).
  • The Committee discusses the entire field of foreign trade: multilateral (WTO), regional (Mercosur, etc.), and bilateral relations (Ukraine, etc.).
  • In addition, expert committees have been formed at the Trade Policy Committee in areas very important for the EU: steel, textiles, services, conformity assessments, motor vehicles.

The views of the Committee on various topics are a guideline/basis for:

  • the European Commission in negotiations;
  • COREPER (Committee of Permanent Representatives of Member States) members;
  • GAC/FAC (Foreign Affairs Council) members in making decisions.

Estonia in the Trade Policy Committee

In Estonia, the competence of foreign trade is divided between different ministries; the main responsibility rests with two – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. In addition, several other ministries and agencies are more or less involved in foreign trade issues related to their field.

In the spring of 2003, after receiving observer status in the 133 Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to create a working group of the 133 Committee, which includes representatives of various ministries and their subsidiaries (the total number of related officials is approximately 30), for the development and coordination of domestic positions on the topics under discussion.

The same working group continues to operate even after the name of the 133 Committee was changed to the Trade Policy Committee. As mentioned above, sessions of the Trade Policy Committee take place in Brussels every week, and they usually cover 5–10 topics. The instructions together with the positions of Estonia are prepared in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs separately for each item on the agenda. Coordination of positions with the members of the national working group takes place mainly by email and/or telephone.

foreign trade foreign trade policy European Union

Last updated: 24.08.2022

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