Trade & investment

Trade and investment relations with the EU are shaped by a dense web of multilateral rules, bilateral agreements and political judgments.

For third countries, securing predictable market access, defending national economic interests and attracting sustainable investment depends not only on formal trade agreements, but also on status within global frameworks such as the WTO and WIPO, eligibility for preferential regimes like GSP+, and effective engagement with EU regulatory and political processes.

Issues such as most-favoured-nation treatment, regulatory equivalence, dispute resolution and intellectual property protection increasingly intersect with broader geopolitical and sustainability considerations.

We support governments and economic stakeholders in navigating this landscape by identifying areas of convergence and friction in EU–third country trade relations and developing strategies to advance national interests.

This includes advocacy around MFN status and non-discriminatory treatment, engagement with WTO processes and dispute-settlement dynamics, and representation on trade-related matters linked to WIPO, geographical indications and intellectual property regimes.

We also advise on accessing, maintaining or upgrading preferential arrangements such as GSP+, including the political and governance conditions that underpin eligibility.

Our work further covers bilateral and regional trade negotiations, sustainable investment agreements, and the management of trade disputes and defensive trade instruments.

We assist with the promotion and protection of third-country geographical indications in the EU, the organisation of trade and investment delegations, and engagement with EU and Member State authorities on foreign direct investment screening.

Throughout, we focus on aligning trade policy, investment strategy and regulatory positioning to enhance credibility, resilience and long-term economic integration with Europe.