The EU maintains its mandate as an instution specialised in dealing with international

affairs - particularly in the areas of economics and financial institutions. With its roots in
the European Coal and Steel community - the EU has an extensive pool of experience to
draw from when it comes to Trading and other financial affairs.

Global Trade
Issues

Although nations pledged to keep markets open, G20 countries still engage in
protectionism and interventionist policies
WTO has created unconventional trade barriers that is hard to enforce
Financial regulations
Supply chain disruptions
Done in a bid to reduce impacts of interntional shocks - (What for the EU?)
IP rights and digital commerce creates uncertainty regarding the highly
connected global economy and fairness of competition
US - China: China's development of chips for self sufficiency
Russia - Ukraine: Disruptions to agriculture and energy supply chains

Solutions

Affirmation of the utility of trade in providing goods, services for the world and uplifting
standards of living
Trade practices - the creation of a standard by which all member states should
IP Protection
Theft should not be conflated with buying or transfers (one is legitimate
whilst the other is stealing)
Tougher regimes to combat IP theft (could garner support of LDCs by
pointing out their innovations - affirm their role and convince them to play on
a level playing field)
Confirmation of free-trade as the norm and protectionism as an exception
EU to act as an arbiter for disputes and be the foremost guardian of free
trade
Role of pluralism as a means of safeguarding free trade
 Ability to prevent a complete collapse of a system even if select members
chose to defect
Example - EU internal market/ EU FTAs
Watchdogs and independent arbiters to mediate disputes - or at least point out
who is at fault

Blue Economy
Definitions

Identification of renewable and non-renewable resources

Renewable - Fishing
Non-renewable - Underground mineral and resources extraction, excessive
fishing

Problems

Lack of funding, esp for the private industry, in protection and financing of the blue
economy

Solutions

Management of the commons

Failure of use of government/forceful action to manage the resource
Privatisation and provision of property rights - only useful for static resources (oil,
static corals)
Governing the commons

Funding of such management

Digital Infrastructure and Economy Debt

Restructuring
Inflation and Financial Regulation
Problems
Rising prices due to