Conclusion

Summary

Even though there were linkages between European Union trade policy and “values” before 2009 (in particular with the institution of dialogues under the various association agreements concluded before 2009 or via the link between development policy and trade), linking non-trade policy objectives (NTPOs) and EU values to EU trade policy has become an increasingly prominent feature. The further politization of trade policy with greater power of the Parliament, which must give its consent to the conclusion of trade agreements since the Lisbon Treaty (Article 207 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, TFEU), and the rising citizen concerns on the impact of some trade agreements on NTPOs – as shown by the manifestations related to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and EU–Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – has created more political pressure to enhance these linkages. Finally, the realization that trade can be a useful tool for achieving NTPO objectives, for example in promoting policies in line with climate change objectives, has also called for the multiplication of these trade/NTPOs linkages in bilateral, regional and multilateral engagement with third countries (using soft power via dialogues and non-binding agreements) but also for the enhancement and proper enforcement of NTPO provisions in trade agreements (moving toward a stronger hard law approach in the future). The latter is notably the main objective of the most recent European Commission Communication published in June 2022 on the power of trade partnership as tools to foster green and just economic growth.