International trade policy Page 1 of 4

International trade policy

Denmarks international trade policy fundamentally aims at allowing
more free trade on a global basis. The Danish economy, the global
economy and the developing countries will all benefit from an increase
in international trade. Denmarks international trade policy is
conducted in close co-operation with the other EU-countries. EU speaks
with one voice in international trade negotiations, which gives EU
impact in international trade fora.

Although international trade policy may be conducted bilaterally and regionally,

Denmark and the EU remain fundamentally and clearly committed to multilateral
negotiations. Thereby, the WTO - the World Trade Organization - is the primary focus of
Denmarks and EUs trade policy. The WTO system creates an international legal system
with legitimacy, and it provides the necessary guarantees for all actors in the global
economy. It ensures the involvement of, and consideration for, developing countries.
Furthermore it is important for Denmark that the WTO agreements can be enforced
through WTOs dispute settlement system. The alternative to WTOs regulation of
international economy is that might is right. Likewise, it is important for Denmark to
continuously search for flexibility in agriculture and other important areas of negotiation.

Trade and development

Denmark is among the most active trade liberal and development friendly Member States
of the European Union. Accordingly, Denmark works within the European Union to
promote common positions along these lines to help integrate developing countries into

http://um.dk/en/foreign-policy/international-trade-policy 23-05-2017
International trade policy Page 2 of 4

the multilateral trading system. Simultaneously, Denmark fully respects the fact that
trade policy of the EC almost exclusively lies within the purview of community
competence.

Accordingly, Denmark works within the European Union to promote common positions
along these lines to help integrate developing countries into the multilateral trading
system. Simultaneously, Denmark fully respects the fact that trade policy of the EC
almost exclusively lies within the purview of community competence.

Bilateral and regional agreements

A number of trade related EU bilateral or regional agreements are presently finalized or

under negotiation (i.a. EU-South African Republic, EU-Mexico, EU-Mercosur, EU-Canada,
EU-Arab Gulf States).

The bilateral agreements constitute an important complement to the results obtained in

the multilateral WTO negotiations. Although important, EU's bilateral agreements do not
have a very significant impact on Danish economy generally speaking.
Almost 70% of the Danish foreign trade is with other EU countries or EU acceding
countries. The most important other markets such as the USA, Canada, Japan and China
are not presently covered by EU bilateral or regional agreements. The main focus for
Denmark and the EU in the international trade negotiations remains multilateral.

http://um.dk/en/foreign-policy/international-trade-policy 23-05-2017