Rob Francis
@robfranciseu.bsky.social
Managing editor and Brussels editor for Borderlex covering EU trade policy and coordinating coverage in across London, Geneva, and much else besides. Recovering lobbyist. Occasional meme maker. Season ticket holder Union Saint-Gilloise and Belgium
Chatting with the parents at the school gates. Due to strike some had walked literally miles, in some cases pushing pushchairs, to pick their kids up and drop them off. One parent with three kids said she was exhausted. One father had walked 5k. Taxis unavailable apparently
November 25, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Chatting with the parents at the school gates. Due to strike some had walked literally miles, in some cases pushing pushchairs, to pick their kids up and drop them off. One parent with three kids said she was exhausted. One father had walked 5k. Taxis unavailable apparently
The EU and India are cutting corners to get a trade deal across the line by the end of the year. The latest casualty is the state-owned enterprises chapter - now consigned to history. But problems remain. More by me here borderlex.net/2025/11/25/e...
EU, India ditch another chapter as trade deal deadline nears - Borderlex - European trade policy
The European Union and India continue to eye agreement on a free trade pact before the end of the year.
borderlex.net
November 25, 2025 at 10:17 AM
The EU and India are cutting corners to get a trade deal across the line by the end of the year. The latest casualty is the state-owned enterprises chapter - now consigned to history. But problems remain. More by me here borderlex.net/2025/11/25/e...
Reposted by Rob Francis
Detailed status on EU-US trade conversation following @robfranciseu.bsky.social 's day at the trade ministers' meeting in Brussels with USTR Grier and Commerce Sec Lutnick.🇪🇺 🇺🇸
EU, US agree to disagree on tariffs, digital rules - Borderlex - European trade policy
Washington will not lower tariffs on European steel and derivates exports until Brussels rolls back its digital legislation and implements lower tariffs on American exports as laid down in the August joint statement, US officials told ministers in Brussels
f.mtr.cool
November 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Detailed status on EU-US trade conversation following @robfranciseu.bsky.social 's day at the trade ministers' meeting in Brussels with USTR Grier and Commerce Sec Lutnick.🇪🇺 🇺🇸
Lutnick seemed generally impressed to be able to speak to 27 trade ministers today. EU ministerials are maybe normalised in the Brussels bubble but clearly this is still a big thing for third countries, regardless of the issues on the table
November 24, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Lutnick seemed generally impressed to be able to speak to 27 trade ministers today. EU ministerials are maybe normalised in the Brussels bubble but clearly this is still a big thing for third countries, regardless of the issues on the table
Yes. Turned out Sefco was meeting Lutnick this morning which was why he was late.
November 24, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Yes. Turned out Sefco was meeting Lutnick this morning which was why he was late.
Apparently some media outlets found today's EU trade minsiters meeting - which includes the participation of the US commerce secretary and US trade representative - as a "hard sell" for their editors. They view the joint statement as a done deal, and developments on Ukraine take priority
November 24, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Apparently some media outlets found today's EU trade minsiters meeting - which includes the participation of the US commerce secretary and US trade representative - as a "hard sell" for their editors. They view the joint statement as a done deal, and developments on Ukraine take priority
EU trade commissioner @marossefcovic.bsky.social says today's talks between EU trade ministers and their US counterparts are "not about negotiations. This is about the stocktaking exercise". Says EU is "not only committed, but also delivering on its commitment" in the EU-US joint statement
November 24, 2025 at 8:59 AM
EU trade commissioner @marossefcovic.bsky.social says today's talks between EU trade ministers and their US counterparts are "not about negotiations. This is about the stocktaking exercise". Says EU is "not only committed, but also delivering on its commitment" in the EU-US joint statement
At an event hosted by the Turkmenistan embassy in Brussels. US and Chinese army officers having a chat over glasses of wine
November 21, 2025 at 5:42 PM
At an event hosted by the Turkmenistan embassy in Brussels. US and Chinese army officers having a chat over glasses of wine
Reposted by Rob Francis
Quite the week in EU trade w/ ferro-alloys safeguard & #CPTPP cooperation
Here what else happened:
#EUMercosur not to ECJ
EU Philippines FTA +
China ant-dumping
@robfranciseu.bsky.social
Here what else happened:
#EUMercosur not to ECJ
EU Philippines FTA +
China ant-dumping
@robfranciseu.bsky.social
Week in Brussels: Mercosur not to ECJ, EU Philippines, China trade defence - Borderlex - European trade policy
It was an eventful week in Brussels. The news was dominated by the unusual step by the EU to enact a safeguard measure on ferro-alloys, which angered EU neighbours Norway and Iceland.
f.mtr.cool
November 21, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Quite the week in EU trade w/ ferro-alloys safeguard & #CPTPP cooperation
Here what else happened:
#EUMercosur not to ECJ
EU Philippines FTA +
China ant-dumping
@robfranciseu.bsky.social
Here what else happened:
#EUMercosur not to ECJ
EU Philippines FTA +
China ant-dumping
@robfranciseu.bsky.social
EPP to table the council's position on the deforestation regulation "word for word" ahead of the European Parliament's vote next week. The council wants a one year postponement to the application date of the law.
November 21, 2025 at 10:14 AM
EPP to table the council's position on the deforestation regulation "word for word" ahead of the European Parliament's vote next week. The council wants a one year postponement to the application date of the law.
EU and Philippines have "substantially concluded" the chapter on trade and sustainable development within their trade agreement negotiations. Not clear whether Manilla signed up to sanctions in the TSD chapter as demanded by Brussels
November 21, 2025 at 10:11 AM
EU and Philippines have "substantially concluded" the chapter on trade and sustainable development within their trade agreement negotiations. Not clear whether Manilla signed up to sanctions in the TSD chapter as demanded by Brussels
Iceland is very angry at the commission's decision to apply a safeguard to imports of ferro-alloys from EEA countries. Iceland's foreign minister says the decison "goes against the core values of the EEA agreement. We need to stick together more than ever before."
November 20, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Iceland is very angry at the commission's decision to apply a safeguard to imports of ferro-alloys from EEA countries. Iceland's foreign minister says the decison "goes against the core values of the EEA agreement. We need to stick together more than ever before."
European Commission to publish its economic security "doctrine" on 3 December, apparently
November 20, 2025 at 9:22 AM
European Commission to publish its economic security "doctrine" on 3 December, apparently
Groundhog Day looming for the EU deforestation regulation as member states and the biggest political group in the EP calls for a(nother!) one year extension to the application date borderlex.net/2025/11/19/e...
EU deforestation regulation - capitals rally behind extra one year extension - Borderlex - European trade policy
EU member states have rallied around requests in some capitals and large political groups in the European Parliament to extend by another year the coming into force of the EU's deforestation regulatio...
borderlex.net
November 19, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Groundhog Day looming for the EU deforestation regulation as member states and the biggest political group in the EP calls for a(nother!) one year extension to the application date borderlex.net/2025/11/19/e...
MEPs want the tariff eliminations on US products to be time-limited (18-36 months) and also want safeguards, plus to exclude steel and aluminium + derivatives until the US reduces its own duties from 50% to 15% borderlex.net/2025/11/19/e...
EU-US Turnberry deal: MEPs aim for time limit and suspension clause - Borderlex - European trade policy
he main political groups in the European Parliament want tariff eliminations on US imports granted as part of a trade accord concluded this summer to be time-limited and susceptible to being lifted u...
borderlex.net
November 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
MEPs want the tariff eliminations on US products to be time-limited (18-36 months) and also want safeguards, plus to exclude steel and aluminium + derivatives until the US reduces its own duties from 50% to 15% borderlex.net/2025/11/19/e...
EU member states back commission proposal on Mercosur safeguards without any amendments. Full speed ahead on signature and ratification then...right? See our piece on the original proposal here borderlex.net/2025/10/08/a...
Agriculture safeguard tied to EU-Mercosur trade deal now on track - Borderlex - European trade policy
The European Commission tabled legislation to codify safeguard provisions in the EU-Mercosur agreement for sensitive agricultural products.
borderlex.net
November 19, 2025 at 3:46 PM
EU member states back commission proposal on Mercosur safeguards without any amendments. Full speed ahead on signature and ratification then...right? See our piece on the original proposal here borderlex.net/2025/10/08/a...
In just six weeks importers of CBAM-covered goods will have to pay for (some of) their emissions. But the commission still hasn't confirmed some key details, and businesses are in the dark. More from me 👇🏻 borderlex.net/2025/11/18/b...
Business left in dark as CBAM payment start date looms - Borderlex - European trade policy
Six weeks before first payments are due, the European Commission continues to fine-tune the final details of the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism, leaving companies in the dark on how much they...
borderlex.net
November 18, 2025 at 2:29 PM
In just six weeks importers of CBAM-covered goods will have to pay for (some of) their emissions. But the commission still hasn't confirmed some key details, and businesses are in the dark. More from me 👇🏻 borderlex.net/2025/11/18/b...
Had a wave of nostaliga hearing Dombrovskis talk about trade again. I've missed him! Meanwhile, tariffs dominate the EU's economic outlook - of course. More by me below borderlex.net/2025/11/17/e...
EU trade outlook brightens despite lingering tariff concerns, commission says - Borderlex - European trade policy
Recent trade agreements between the United States and its partners, including the European Union, have "alleviated" some uncertainties surrounding the EU's economic outlook, the European Commission sa...
borderlex.net
November 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Had a wave of nostaliga hearing Dombrovskis talk about trade again. I've missed him! Meanwhile, tariffs dominate the EU's economic outlook - of course. More by me below borderlex.net/2025/11/17/e...
The week ahead in EU trade policy by the Borderlex team. Another super-busy week... borderlex.net/2025/11/17/w...
Week Ahead: ferro-alloys, CPTPP, EU Malaysia, customs, CSDDD, Russian gas ban - Borderlex - European trade policy
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borderlex.net
November 17, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The week ahead in EU trade policy by the Borderlex team. Another super-busy week... borderlex.net/2025/11/17/w...
Reposted by Rob Francis
Week in Brussels column by @robfranciseu.bsky.social and @chrishorseman.bsky.social :
▪️ EU-Mercosur at the ECJ?
▪️ MEP okay Singapore digital pact
▪️ EU, Ecuador talk investment facilitation
▪️ EU-Mercosur at the ECJ?
▪️ MEP okay Singapore digital pact
▪️ EU, Ecuador talk investment facilitation
Week in Brussels: Mercosur to ECJ?, Singapore digital, Ecuador, Belgian pork - Borderlex - European trade policy
A roundup of the week's EU trade news from Brussels.
f.mtr.cool
November 14, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Week in Brussels column by @robfranciseu.bsky.social and @chrishorseman.bsky.social :
▪️ EU-Mercosur at the ECJ?
▪️ MEP okay Singapore digital pact
▪️ EU, Ecuador talk investment facilitation
▪️ EU-Mercosur at the ECJ?
▪️ MEP okay Singapore digital pact
▪️ EU, Ecuador talk investment facilitation
EU trade commissioner to travel next week to meet with the CPTPP ministers in Australia - will we see any movement on the EU-Australia trade deal?
November 14, 2025 at 3:08 PM
EU trade commissioner to travel next week to meet with the CPTPP ministers in Australia - will we see any movement on the EU-Australia trade deal?
The commission will publish its new “economic security doctrine” at the start of next month and will publish a new updated export control list…today! says EU trade commissioner @marossefcovic.bsky.social. The doctrine will check if EU’s existing tools are “sharp enough, efficient enough”
November 14, 2025 at 8:47 AM
The commission will publish its new “economic security doctrine” at the start of next month and will publish a new updated export control list…today! says EU trade commissioner @marossefcovic.bsky.social. The doctrine will check if EU’s existing tools are “sharp enough, efficient enough”
Reposted by Rob Francis
EU capitals want to scrap the current duty exemption on small parcels as early as 2026
#deminimis #ecommerce
@robfranciseu.bsky.social has the full story
#deminimis #ecommerce
@robfranciseu.bsky.social has the full story
E-commerce: EU eyes early end of 'de minimis' tariff exemption - Borderlex - European trade policy
EU member states agreed to eliminate customs duty relief for goods arriving into the bloc worth less than €150 – known as the de minimis rule.
f.mtr.cool
November 13, 2025 at 4:35 PM
EU capitals want to scrap the current duty exemption on small parcels as early as 2026
#deminimis #ecommerce
@robfranciseu.bsky.social has the full story
#deminimis #ecommerce
@robfranciseu.bsky.social has the full story
I can't get as energised as others about the EPP breaking the 'cordon sanitaire'. They tried to vote through the position agreed with the S&D, Renew etc. last time and it failed. The vote today passed with a 130 majority, which is pretty comfortable.
CSDDD rapporteur Jörgen Warborn shrugging off concerns about the EPP seeking support from the far right. "You have to find majorities in the parliament. That's what you do" Warborn says
November 13, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I can't get as energised as others about the EPP breaking the 'cordon sanitaire'. They tried to vote through the position agreed with the S&D, Renew etc. last time and it failed. The vote today passed with a 130 majority, which is pretty comfortable.
CSDDD rapporteur Jörgen Warborn shrugging off concerns about the EPP seeking support from the far right. "You have to find majorities in the parliament. That's what you do" Warborn says
November 13, 2025 at 1:01 PM
CSDDD rapporteur Jörgen Warborn shrugging off concerns about the EPP seeking support from the far right. "You have to find majorities in the parliament. That's what you do" Warborn says