Free trade agreements and WTO

Question for written answer  E-001072/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Hélène Laporte (ID)

Last week, the European Union unveiled its new trade strategy, which firmly places the fight against global warming at the heart of its external trade policy.

With this strategy, which will steer the course of European trade over the next decade, the Commission is proposing that future trade agreements are conditional on compliance with the Paris Climate Agreement — a requirement that was lacking in previous EU agreements.

The EU also wants to see a reform of the WTO. According to the EU, the rebalancing of world trade requires a complete overhaul of the WTO, which was crippled by the disengagement of the United States after Washington accused China of abusive practices and deemed the organisation incapable of addressing them.

• 1.Will the Commission refuse to sign the Free Trade Agreement with Mercosur if there is a risk of massive deforestation in the Amazon?
• 2.What mechanisms are envisaged by the Commission to ensure that, under its trade deals, companies do not use forced labour?
• 3.Will the WTO reform options proposed by the Commission prevent unfair competition by China, which subsidises its industries and forces its partners to transfer technology?