The effect of the EU membership on the trade between Denmark and China

Early steps of European integration have led to the transfer of competencies in trade policy and in relation to negotiations of international trade agreements. The increased centralization of the policy field has increased the salience within the policy together with the growing importance of international trade in the EU member states’ economies. This dissertation is a case study which shows the importance of international trade for a small member state and the effect of being a member of the EU. The chosen case study is about Denmark and their bilateral trade with China. The dissertation shows how Denmark has adapted their trade policy to fit into the institutional setting of the EU trade policy, and how Denmark’s influence has been accentuated through the membership. The dissertation looks at the current trade relations between China and the EU comparatively to the bilateral trade relations between China and Denmark. Another step of the analysis is of the steps leading up to the negotiations process of an international trade agreement within the EU framework which has shown the main channels of influence. This analysis of the dissertation is then complemented by an analysis of the export and import data, which shows the main challenges and interests which will need to be dealt with and represented in the Danish trade position when attempting to influence the EU trade policy. The main conclusion derived from this current research is that Danish influence over the global trading system has been increased due to the economic and institutional argument brought by the membership of the EU and European integration.