Recent trends of Common Commercial Policy of the European Union: from global to regional (and back?) in the governance of international economic order

The paper offers an overview of the recent trends of Common Commercial policy, with particular reference to the shift towards regional approaches to trade liberalization and their impact on EU and international trade governance model. The features and effects of the new generation EU-negotiated free trade agreements are are analysed in light of the competences conferred upon the European Union by the Lisbon Treaty. Closing remarks address the following issues: i) political and democratic control of EU decision making process leading to the conclusions of these agreements ii) coordination between EU industrial policy and common commercial policy iii) future of multilateral trade agenda.