With its accession to the European Union, the Czech Republic gave up the idea of establishing an independent trade policy. It then joined the Customs Union, in which all EU member states have the same import and export rules. This does not mean abandoning our country\’s interests, which have so far developed in third-country markets. On the contrary, joining the EU will allow us to more actively promote our country through a common trade policy. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture, together with DG Customs, regularly send representatives to EU meetings. At these meetings, they comment on the proposals adopted.

and present their arguments. The Czech Republic has three representatives in the International Trade Commission and the European Parliament. The European Commission promotes the trade interests of the Czech Republic. The Commission, in which the Czech Republic is not represented, will negotiate on behalf of the EU with its counterparts through DG Trade and DG Tax and Customs. The Council plays an important role in drafting new trade agreements. The most important role is played by the Trade Policy Committee. The Committee is primarily responsible for the negotiation and conclusion of new trade agreements within international organizations and serves a preparatory function in the Board\’s decision-making process. Its members usually meet once a month, and its representatives often meet once a week. The Committee is chaired by a representative of the country that holds the Presidency at the time. The topics discussed are focused on three areas. Services and investment, the industrial sector, and the existing preferential tariff regime.

In December 2017, new EU regulations came into force to protect the EU from unfair trade practices. Antidumping techniques can be used in situations where the price of imported products is artificially lowered after state intervention. This provides a broader revision to protect trade. one year on, the new regulation provides EU producers with even greater protection against unfair competition and practices that harm, in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals. Its aim is 100% transparency and credibility.