ASPETTI ETICI NELLA NUOVA POLITICA COMMERCIALE

The European Union’s trade policy has undergone several changes in the last decade in order for the EU to remain a top trading partner, since trade is a key driver of the EU’s economic growth. However, due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a renewed interest in the EU’s trade policy. Furthermore, the year 2020 saw the global outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as an increase in the number of infected people and a rise in the number of businesses and companies that shutdown during this chaotic period. The COVID-19 pandemic altered the way in which trade deals, and decisions were made, as well as the EU's position as a major player in global trade. This created a situation whereby the EU needed to adopt a more “ethical” trade policy approach. The European Union announced in May 2020 the launch of a new trade policy strategy in order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. The review addresses the EU’s swift plan to achieve economic recovery from the coronavirus, WTO reform initiatives, strengthening the EU’s competitiveness in a complex environment, and the EU’s openness to implementing digital changes. The purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth analysis of the European Union's approach to its new trade policy, as well as to investigate the existing relationship between the EU trade policy review and sustainability, describing the potential benefits and potential pitfalls. Keywords: COVID-19, Economic growth, EU trade policy, Global trade, WTO reform initiatives, Digital Changes.