Supranational Trade Authorities

Abstract

Supranational trade authorities have played a central role in shaping European trade policy since the creation of the European Economic Community in 1958. The Treaty of Rome laid the foundation for a common market by reducing trade barriers among member states and establishing a customs union with a common external tariff. Over time, the European Union has evolved into a major actor in global economic diplomacy. Its influence in the international trading system is closely tied to a complex legal and institutional framework that distributes competences both vertically between the EU and its member states and horizontally among EU institutions. This chapter examines the legal foundations and institutional structures that shape the EU's role in global trade. It also highlights three recent trends in EU trade governance: an increasing reliance on unilateral action, the growth of informal engagement with trading partners, and a declining emphasis on evidence-based policymaking. These developments raise questions about the EU's commitment to free trade, multilateralism, democratic accountability, and the rule of law.