Event Summary
The United States is not negotiating any large free trade agreements but has over a thousand mini deals, which are smaller, targeted agreements with foreign partners. Mini deals cover standards and rules and tend to go under the radar as they do not need congressional approval. The European Union has the same phenomena—thousands of small deals that regulate rules of origins, technical barriers, and other details. Mini deals appear invisible but continue to play an important part of trade policy.
What advantages and disadvantages do these mini deals have? How can governments ensure accountability? Meet two scholars from both sides of the Atlantic who have tried to map them.
HOST
Cecilia Malmström
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE)
GUESTS
Lucian Cernat
Head of Global Regulatory Cooperation and International Procurement Negotiations, DG Trade, European Commission
Kathleen Claussen
Professor of Law, Georgetown Law
Video
Series
About This Series
Trade Winds is a monthly virtual event series hosted by Cecilia Malmström that explores the future of global commerce, including ways that international cooperation on trade can accelerate the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.