EU President Orders New Trade Official to Be ‘Assertive’ With Trade Tools

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chose Maros Sefcovic as the bloc’s commissioner for trade and economic security, saying in a Sept. 17 mission letter that Sefcovic should help the EU take a “more assertive stance” on the use of sanctions and other economic statecraft tools, work to modernize the EU’s customs system, and push to finalize free trade deals.

The letter, one of several von der Leyen has published to assign roles to the team within the European Commission for the next five years, specifically directs Sefcovic to work with the U.S. to “enhance bilateral trade and investment ties and cooperate on issues of global concern.” He should also manage relations with China by addressing the country’s harmful subsidies and other nonmarket practices. “You will use your autonomous instruments as necessary,” von der Leyen said.

She said Sefcovic -- the former commission executive vice president for the European Green Deal, interinstitutional relations and foresight -- should ensure EU companies can compete in international markets on a “level playing field,” which may call for new trade restrictions to be deployed. “For this you will use all of our trade defence instruments where and when needed and reflect, together with our Member States and stakeholders, if further instruments are necessary to complete and reform our toolbox.”

That includes working on a new “economic security doctrine” that will help the bloc decide “how and when to deploy” its trade tools, von der Leyen said. He also will work “on the effective design and implementation of trade sanctions.”

The EU in January released a package of proposals that could lead to new restrictions over dual-use technologies, including through expanded investment restrictions and improved export control coordination among member states (see 2401240078 and 2407250013).

The mission letter also called on Sefcovic to help push forward the negotiations on the EU’s new customs reform initiative, which could create a single, central Customs Data Hub, eliminate the de minimis threshold for certain imports, and more (see 2403150023). Sefcovic will “support the conclusion of negotiations” on the customs reform package, the letter said, “most notably by preparing the setting up of a new EU Customs Authority,” which will oversee the new EU Customs Data Hub.

Von der Leyen also said she wants the EU to finish free trade negotiations with countries in Latin America and the Indo-Pacific, and will work with African nations to boost trade. Sefcovic should be looking to “explore the scope for opening other bilateral negotiations with emerging economies and key growth centres.”

Along with leading EU trade issues, Sefcovic will retain his role as commissioner for institutional relations and transparency. He said he is “truly honoured to be entrusted with trade and economic security.”