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
Rob Francis
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EU concludes revamped agreement with 4 African countries, going beyond goods to include digital trade, services, IP, procurement, and much more. The blueprint for other deals with Africa, potentially. More by me here borderlex.net/2026/06/10/e...
Rob Francis
EU gets a 10% under this new section 301 tariff on forced labour. Likely to replace the current section 122 tariff at end of July which is also 10%. Key question - will there be a 15% ceiling for EU as agreed at Turnberry?
EU and South Korea will sign their digital trade agreement tomorrow - the text as it stands is here circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/092...
In EU trade policy news you may have missed this week:
📌Maroš in Paris
📌Leather in the EUDR?
📌Steel consultation
📌UAE talks
More by me here borderlex.net/2026/06/05/w...
Who could have predicted this? Incoming Section 301 tariffs on EU will add up roughly to 15% - as was the case previously. But there's another 301 probe coming along soon. So what then? Reactions and analysis w/ @bernd-lange.bsky.social and @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social borderlex.net/2026/06/03/b...
The UK should resist the temptation of establishing its own 'anti-coercion instreument', argues former government official Tamsin Morgan in this op-ed (in front of the paywall so free to access) borderlex.net/2026/06/09/o...
MEPS want 'made in EU' to mean 'made in EU' and not 'made in EU and FTA partners'. Member states seem more focused on ensuring trade diversification. This IAA thing will be tricky And they want to finalise all this by the end of the year! Hold tight borderlex.net/2026/06/02/e...
The European Union concluded talks on an enhanced economic partnership agreement with four countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa region which will set new rules on services and investment, publ...
Member states are lobbying the commission to let them retain their own customs data systems within the EU data hub. Some insiders think this is bad - the data hub is a key plank of the customs reform - but the picture is more complex. More by me below borderlex.net/2026/06/08/e...
The EU and South Korea set up a new high-level economic dialogue and a 'Competitiveness Partnership. What does this mean though? Er...not clear. What we do know, is below borderlex.net/2026/06/10/e...
If you're an aspiring journalist and you want to work with me - now's your chance! We're hiring. More info here borderlex.net/2026/06/08/j...
Rob Francis
The European Commission urged the United States to stand by the Turnberry trade agreement after Washington moved to slap a 10% duty on EU imports over forced-labour rules.
