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This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the European Union’s latest generation of so-called mini trade deals (MTDs), an informal but analytically useful label applied to agreements that sit outside the standard free trade agreement (FTA) framework.Study - Role and impact of the latest generation of EU mini trade deals, such as clean trade and investment partnerships - 14-07-2026
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the European Union’s latest generation of so-called mini trade deals (MTDs), an informal but analytically useful label applied to agreements that sit outside the standard free trade agreement (FTA) framework. The paper focuses on three current categories: clean trade and investment partnerships (CTIPs), sustainable investment facilitation agreements (SIFAs), and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) related to critical raw materials (CRMs). Drawing on existing research by Claussen (2022), Cernat (2023), Larsson and Wennerberg (2024), and Sasmal (2026), as well as on institutional documents, European Parliament (EP) research, and further academic literature, it examines each instrument’s substantive content, procedural origins, stakeholder involvement, legal character, governance architecture, and the role, or absence of a role, of the European Parliament. The paper evaluates the implementation record of existing agreements where data are available, identifies the systemic challenges of transparency and democratic accountability, and assesses the strategic rationale for MTDs in the current geopolitical environment. It concludes that while MTDs offer genuine advantages in speed and flexibility, their growing use (especially in legally non-binding form) raises serious governance concerns that the EU’s institutional architecture is not currently equipped to manage. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP Read more
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