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Commerce and Security Meet in the European Union’s Trade Defence Instruments

Author

Listed:
  • Patricia Garcia-Duran

    (Department of Economic History, Institutions, Policy and World Economy, University of Barcelona, Spain)

  • L. Johan Eliasson

    (Political Science and Economics, East Stroudsburg University, USA)

  • Oriol Costa

    (Faculty of Political Science and Sociology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain / Barcelona Institute of International Studies, Spain)

Abstract

Mercantilist policies, protectionism, Chinese and US violations of the spirit—if not always the rules—of the World Trade Organization, along with supply chain vulnerabilities, trade wars, and illegal state subsidies have all contributed to a rise in the weaponisation of commerce (using trade in response to, or to achieve, political decisions or acts) across the globe. The weaponisation and geo-politicisation of trade pose a challenge for the EU, which is poorly suited for a game of power politics. Its common commercial policy developed separately from the intergovernmental foreign and security policy. The level of exclusive EU competence differs across the two policy domains, as do decision-making processes. Drawing on work addressing ideational and instrumental levels of policy, we discuss how the EU is assessing the international environment through the ideational framework of strategic autonomy, and how this has shaped the construction of new trade defence instruments intended to protect against economic and technology-related security risks. Focusing specifically on trade defence instruments addressing security concerns, which are justified in the 2023 European Economic Security Strategy (especially in the pillar focusing on protecting against economic security risks), we show that the distinction between commercial policy and traditional security concerns is eroding.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia Garcia-Duran & L. Johan Eliasson & Oriol Costa, 2023. "Commerce and Security Meet in the European Union’s Trade Defence Instruments," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 11(4), pages 165-176.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v11:y:2023:i:4:p:165-176
    DOI: 10.17645/pag.v11i4.7030
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    References listed on IDEAS

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