Podcast
Trade-Off
Hosted by Directorate-General for Trade · EN
A podcast series on EU trade policy – and why it matters.
Welcome to ‘Trade-Off’ - the podcast about the people, politics, and power inside Europe’s trade policy.
Brian Talty, together with his guests, will explore the stories of the people who shape and steer trade every day.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
When trade is weaponised - Guaranteeing economic security
4w agoTap to summarizeTrade isn't just about tariffs — it's about trust. On this episode of Trade Off, we ask: can Europe stay open without becoming exposed? From critical minerals to 5G networks, our guests explain why "economic security" isn't protectionism in disguise — it's about knowing where you're vulnerable before someone else does.
Transcribe →Trade-Off the podium 07 – WTO
Jul 13Tap to summarizeToday’s Trade-off the Podium discussion with Olof Gill on the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.The EU presents WTO reform proposals in Geneva: (1) rebalancing member rights/obligations, including flexibility for economic security concerns, (2) restoring a fair global level playing field via stronger rules and transparency, and (3) reforming WTO governance to speed up decision-making.
Transcribe →Trade-Off the podium 04 – 10 June
Jul 6Tap to summarizeToday’s midday press briefing off the podium discussion with Olof Gill on 3 items of the week. Three items: a new EU-Korea digital trade agreement (easier e-signatures/contracts, more SME opportunities, stronger data/consumer protections); an upgraded partnership with Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles (adding digital trade, investment, sustainability); and the 10th anniversary of the EU-SADC partnership, under which the EU became SADC's top economic partner.
Transcribe →Trade-Off the podium 02 – EU-Mexico
Jul 6Tap to summarizeToday’s midday press briefing off the podium discussion with Olof Gill on the EU-Mexico agreementEU and Mexico signed an updated version of their 2000 trade agreement in Mexico City. Update strengthens bilateral ties and reflects current trade realities. Main winners: EU exporters (especially agri-food, since Mexico is a net food importer) and EU-origin products, which gain protection from imitation.
Transcribe →Trade-Off the podium 05 – GSP
Jul 6Tap to summarizeToday’s midday press briefing off the podium discussion with Olof Gill on GSP. The EU's GSP gives 65 least-developed countries low/no tariffs on exports to the EU, supporting their jobs and growth. In return, EU consumers and importers get more diversified sourcing — a current EU trade priority.
Transcribe →Trade-Off the podium 06 – Irish Presidency
Jul 6Tap to summarizeToday’s Trade-off the Podium discussion with Olof Gill on the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Ireland's EU presidency puts competitiveness first, with trade as a key pillar — maximising free trade agreements, diversifying supply chains, and advancing talks with partners from Asia to Africa, all in a spirit of EU unity.
Transcribe →Trade-Off the podium 03 – EU-Steel
Jul 6Tap to summarizeToday’s midday press briefing off the podium discussion with Olof Gill on the steel measures. Following an April proposal to shield the EU steel sector from overcapacity and unfair competition (effective July 1), the Commission opened a four-week public consultation (starting June 4) on "melt and pour" origin-tracing rules for steel, with final requirements due in October. Goal: keep EU steel competitive and viable.
Transcribe →What's the deal with steel?
Jun 29Tap to summarizeSteel isn't just old-school smokestacks — it's wind turbines, EVs, and Europe's green future. But the industry is drowning in cheap imports, sky-high energy costs & global overcapacity. The EU just put out bold new trade measures to fight back. Is it enough?
Transcribe →SWEXIT: Sabine Weyand's Final Trade-Off
May 28Tap to summarizeSeven years. Brexit. Mercosur. A pandemic. A world where the rulebook keeps catching fire. As Director-General of DG Trade, Sabine Weyand was at the centre of it all — fierce, formidable, and reportedly terrifying when necessary. In this special episode, she reflects on what it took to keep EU trade policy from unravelling, what "the law of the jungle" really means for Europe, and what comes next. Spoiler: it involves Florence and considerably less chaos.
Transcribe →EU-India: The mother of all deals
May 20Tap to summarize“Not just the mother of all deals — the Everest of free trade agreements.” In this episode of Trade Off, we unpack the landmark EU–India FTA set to connect 2 billion people and reshape global trade. From geopolitics and sustainability to wine, yoga mats and AI, negotiators and experts reveal the ambitions, tensions and human stories behind one of the world’s biggest economic partnerships.
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