| |
ATLASS is the consortium supported by a framework contract to provide economic analysis in support of trade negotiations and trade policy issues.
Under the direction of Commissioner Mandelson, DG Trade is in charge of conducting the Union's commercial policy in accordance with the objectives set out in Article 133 of the EC Treaty. This policy covers all the main aspects of trade in goods and services (tariff and non-tariff barriers, trade defence, particularly in cases of dumping and subsidies, export loans as well as key aspects of intellectual property, investment and competition, bilateral agreements, participation in the multilateral World Trade Organisation). The objective of the consortium, is to conduct economic studies in support of trade negotiations and trade policy issues on behalf of the DG.
The analytical scope and subject areas of the tasks to be carried out by ATLASS is large and covers all fields of trade policy. The following non-exhaustive list of subjects is given as an example of the issues that might come up in future studies: |
| |
- Market access priorities and trade protection analysis, including analysis of tariff and non-tariff barriers for specific sectors, products and regions.
- Regional trade agreements: quantitative (general and partial equilibrium models) and qualitative macro-economic and sectoral impact studies and trade preference analysis.
- WTO issues analysis including public procurement, trade facilitation, environment, foreign direct investment, intellectual property rights etc.; including economic implications of systemic changes in the multilateral trading system.
- Trade in services and regulatory barriers to trade: the impact of specific nontariff regulatory barriers on competition in the market, the behaviour of market operators, prices and profit margins, investment and consumer welfare.
- Trade disputes: economic expertise and studies required on cases or issues under investigation in the context of Trade Barriers Regulation, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body or any other trade or international agreement.
- Links between trade, development and poverty, including GSP, rules of origin, preference erosion and other specific issues linked to developing countries.
- Macro-economic environment of trade policy and long-term development of European and world trade.
- The impact of worldwide and EU climate change policy on trade and competitiveness of the EU economy; quantitative modelling of trade policy implications of specific energy and environmental policy issues.
- Trade and competitiveness of the EU economy, examining the link between external and internal EU policies in the context of the Lisbon strategy, the impact of trade policies on the welfare of EU citizens. |
|