The European Union as a trade policy actor

This chapter deals with the emergence of the European Union as a major actor in global trade politics. It focuses on three key areas: first, the EU policy framework and the policy environment; second, the EU's powers and processes of trade policy making; third, the EU's relationship to the changing trade policy agenda and the broader multilateral order. It concludes with an evaluation of key trends and future prospects for the EU as a trade policy actor.