News: Centre of Excellence
Framing Critical Minerals: Hybridising Economic, Environmental, and Security Objectives in EU Trade Discourse
WORKING PAPER 23:
Critical minerals now sit at the centre of EU trade discourse, where global sustainability goals, competitiveness, and supply-chain vulnerabilities intersect. The paper applies discursive institutionalism and introduces “framing hybridisation” to explain how the EU’s narrative evolved through external shocks, agency shifts, and stakeholder engagement. Using co-occurrence analysis and time-series mapping of DG Trade communications (1989–2025), it identifies a three-phase trajectory: an initial economic frame (liberalisation/competitiveness), a subsequent environmental frame (mining practices and the green transition), and, most recently, a security frame (reducing strategic dependencies and strengthening supply-chain resilience). Since 2020, these frames increasingly appear together, signalling a broader shift in EU trade policy under conditions of global uncertainty.
Road to Belém | Seminar Session Critical Minerals: Australia–EU Collaboration for the Green Transition
Wednesday 1st October, 2025 With COP30’s Action Agenda placing “Transitioning Energy, Industry and Transport” at centre stage, secure Australia-to-EU flows of critical minerals are vital to Europe’s net-zero rollout. The EU is deploying its Green Deal Industrial Plan, Net-Zero Industry Act and forthcoming Critical Raw Materials Act to meet surging demand, while Australia seeks to convert geological advantage into low-carbon value chains.
Road to Belém Briefing No. 1: Critical Minerals for the Net-Zero Transition
ROAD TO BELÉM BRIEFING No. 1 — Critical Minerals: Strategic Context and Policy Brief. COP30 places rapid renewable deployment and electrification at centre stage, sharply increasing demand for critical minerals used in batteries, wind, solar and grids. The system remains highly concentrated: for most minerals the top three producers account for over two-thirds of global output, and in several processing segments China exceeds 80-90%, creating systemic risk. The briefing frames three questions for Belém: how to diversify supply, uphold robust ESG in extraction and processing, and integrate critical minerals into a rules-based multilateral system that supports net-zero pathways. Policy levers assessed include CBAM (from 2026) and EUDR (from 2027) and their market-access implications, alongside concrete measures: embedding cooperation in trade commitments; joint strategic reserves; co-investment; transparency and digital traceability; and joint R&D on refining, recycling and substitution.
[Read more about Road to Belém Briefing No. 1: Critical Minerals for the Net-Zero Transition]
Increasing Unevenness in Trade-Related Sustainability Policy: The ASEAN Perspective
POLICY BRIEF No. 29 – Professor Göran Roos is Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources, University of Adelaide.
ASEAN countries are facing mounting pressure to align trade policy with emerging sustainability norms. While the global shift toward greener trade is accelerating—driven by the European Union’s Green Deal, the rise of carbon pricing, and private sector ESG demands—ASEAN’s policy response has been uneven. The disparity threatens to undermine regional competitiveness and fragment ASEAN’s vision of a cohesive market. The author argues that ASEAN must accelerate harmonisation efforts, strengthen regulatory capacity, and build flexible partnerships that allow member states to converge towards higher standards without sacrificing development goals. A coordinated response is critical to secure market access, attract investment, and position ASEAN as a credible player in sustainable trade.
ISER Promotion of EU Climate Policy Event
On Wednesday 21 May, the Institute for International Trade, the School of Economics and Public Policy, and the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in Trade and Environment welcomed Professor Hans Fehr (University of Würzburg) for an in-depth examination of the EU’s evolving climate architecture, moderated by Professor Peter Draper.
The EU Corporate Sustainability Due-Diligence Directive and China-EU Trade: Environmental Implications for the Chinese Electric-Vehicle Sector
WORKING PAPER 22 - This working paper analyses how the EU Corporate Sustainability Due-Diligence Directive (CSDDD) will reshape China–EU trade, using the Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) industry as a sectoral lens. By translating voluntary ESG norms into hard-law obligations, the CSDDD extends stringent environmental standards along global value chains and aims to “level the playing field” for firms accessing the EU Single Market. The study traces the Directive’s legal evolution, compares it with China’s ESG framework, and models compliance scenarios for Chinese EV exporters. Findings indicate that while the Directive raises due-diligence and reporting costs—especially for complex battery supply chains—it also offers first-mover advantages to firms that align quickly with EU benchmarks. Competitive outcomes will depend on supply-chain transparency, technology upgrading, and the degree of regulatory convergence between Brussels and Beijing.
Fourth Australia-Europe Economic Relations Dialogue
We were honored to host the Fourth Australia-Europe Economic Relations Dialogue at the University of Adelaide on November 18-19, 2024. With the theme "Deepening Australia-EU Relations in Troubled Times for Trade", this year’s dialogue brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to tackle critical global trade challenges and explore opportunities for closer collaboration between Australia and the EU.
[Read more about Fourth Australia-Europe Economic Relations Dialogue ]
The Long and Twisting Road to a Trade Agreement between Australia and the European Union
WORKING PAPER 20 This working paper explores the complex historical and economic relationship between Australia and the European Union (EU), focusing on the challenges in establishing a modern bilateral trade agreement. Although Australia and the EU have shared views on advancing global trade law beyond outdated WTO standards, formal trade negotiations only began in 2017, with several setbacks, including a major collapse in 2021. The paper traces key reasons for this friction, including Australia's strong historical ties with the UK, fluctuating relations with France, and limited engagement from other EU member states. Despite the convergence in trade policies and increased economic ties, factors such as disputes over agricultural access, the geopolitical implications of alliances like AUKUS, and sensitive issues around geographical indicators (e.g., Prosecco and feta) continue to stall progress. This paper underscores that while a trade agreement could yield mutual economic benefits, overcoming entrenched interests and political complexities will be essential for future collaboration.
How is the ‘Business of Climate’ impacting the ‘Climate of Business’?
WORKING PAPER 19: The European Union’s Green Deal introduces the Deforestation Regulation and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to ensure sustainable supply chains. These regulations pose challenges for exporters from Emerging Asia, especially smallholder producers, due to strict compliance and documentation requirements. Countries like Indonesia, India, and Malaysia are concerned about the economic burden and trade barriers these rules impose. While certification alignment could ease compliance, high costs remain a barrier. For a smooth transition, the EU needs to improve support mechanisms and foster greater collaboration with affected trading partners
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Mapping networks of export credit for fossil and clean energy infrastructure
WORKING PAPER 16: Official Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) are pivotal in the global energy sector, investing billions annually in fossil fuel projects. They could significantly boost the energy transition by reducing risks in large projects and supporting climate finance goals. Our working paper analyzes ECA financing in Asia-Pacific, highlighting integrated fossil fuel lending across diverse nations without clear geopolitical divides, unlike the fragmented clean energy network dominated by a "China vs. the rest" pattern. To enhance ECAs' climate contributions, the study suggests ending fossil fuel financing, easing clean energy project requirements, increasing renewable energy funding, and expanding ECAs' roles via blended finance. The IEA stresses ECAs are crucial for achieving net zero by 2050.
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