Clean trade and investment partnerships: A new instrument in the EU's trade policy toolbox

The European Commission has announced a range of new trade partnerships – the clean trade and investment partnerships (CTIPs) – to bolster the EU's competitiveness, diversify supply chains and boost economies. CTIPs are the latest instrument in the EU's set of trade tools the Commission calls 'alternative forms of engagement', and to which experts also refer as 'trade-related agreements' or 'mini trade deals'. They are meant to complement the EU's vast network of trade agreements through a faster, more flexible and more targeted approach, tailored to the EU's and its partners' concrete business interests. The first CTIP was launched with South Africa in March 2025. The agreement will focus on investment, the clean energy transition, skills and technology, and on developing strategic industries along the entire supply chain. The EU-South Africa CTIP will be accompanied by a Global Gateway investment package worth €4.7 billion. However, the new trade policy instrument has raised questions, in particular regarding parliamentary scrutiny and transparency. Since the intended form of the CTIP with South Africa is that of a non-binding instrument, the question also arises as to whether such agreements can deliver tangible results.