'Not Quite There Yet': The Ongoing Quest for a Deep Procedural Reform of EU Trade Defence Instruments

Despite the key role played by track defence instruments (TDI) in EU trade polity, EU TDI investigations currently lack a solid procedural framework for the guarantee of the rights of interested parties. While the European Commission has already adopted some steps aimed at improving TDI proceedings, key issues like access to confidential information and full transparency have not been properly addressed yet. In the field of access to confidential documents, new political momentum for a reform could be found only to the extent that complainants are fully convinced of the benefits arising from such system for their cause. With respect to transparency, practical options appear to be available in the short term which could render TDI proceedings more streamlined and fair.