Summary
The position paper from Cefic, dated January 2025, calls for a well-calibrated EU trade policy to adapt to the complex and uncertain geopolitical and economic landscape. It emphasises the need for a balanced approach that promotes free, fair, sustainable, and resilient trade. Cefic highlights the importance of reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, enhancing regulatory cooperation, and addressing market distortions. The paper also stresses the need for economic security and resilience, advocating for measures that de-risk rather than decouple trade relationships. Cefic urges the EU to align trade policy with broader industrial strategies to sustain the competitiveness of the chemical industry during its transformation.
Key Takeaways:
- Reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers and enhancing regulatory cooperation are crucial.
- Addressing market distortions and ensuring economic security and resilience are essential.
- Aligning trade policy with industrial strategies is necessary for the chemical industry’s competitiveness.