The following letter was sent by ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch and General Secretary of UNI Global Union Christy Hoffman to Commission Vice-President and High Representative Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib 

This is a call for a subcontractor to provide expertise on trade and OSH risks in the framework of the ETUC project "Prevention of OSH risks: climate change, psychosocial factors and the EU trade strategy". The deadline for submission of bids is 8 September 2025 at noon (12:00).

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is warning that the European Commission must introduce measures to safeguard jobs and incomes following its trade deal with US President Donald Trump.  The 15 % US tariff deal is less severe than the threatened 30 %, but it still represents a major burden on key sectors. The result is likely to be significant job losses and slower hiring in manufacturing and export-dependent industries.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) urges the European Union to take decisive and immediate action to protect jobs and production in Europe in light of the threat of 30% tariffs by the US government.

Introduction: As a trade union movement united in the CCSCS and the ETUC, we express that the trade agreement between EU and MERCOSUR must contribute to growth, sustainable development, decent work, democratic values, and peace.

Resolution on EU trade with Israel and PalestineAdopted at the Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting of 15 April 2025

Ahead of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee mission to Indonesia in mid-April, the ETUC with Dutch and Indonesian trade unions highlights remaining issues with workers' rights in the country and make recommendations which are especially relevant in view of the acceleration of EU negotiations on a trade agreement with Indonesia. 

The ETUC has called on the EU to protect jobs and stand firm against any back-tracking on standards and rights in negotiations with the US administration. The 31 million people who work in manufacturing across the EU, many of whom are still facing the consequences of the US’ 25% tariffs, are relying on immediate EU action. The EU must equip itself with the tools to protect jobs from the consequences of the US tariffs. Securing these jobs and investing in expanding the know-how of Europe’s workforce will be crucial to the success of the EU’s industrial strategy. 

The 20% tariffs on goods from the EU announced today by the US government will hit working people hardest. While the full extent and impact of the tariffs announced by the US is not yet clear, it is essential that the EU response delivers a comprehensive strategy to stabilize the economy and save jobs as it responds to the changed trade environment. Europe must not be bullied out of our values and standards. We must not water down our rights and rules. Essential elements to protect jobs and incomes

The ETUC and industriAll Europe have called on the EU to urgently bring in job protection measures in response to today’s announcement by the Trump administration that it will impose 25% tariff rate on cars imported from Europe.

Retaliatory measures will not be enough to save the jobs that could be wiped out by the Trump administration’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium. The ETUC and industriAll Europe are calling on the EU institutions for immediate action to support the workers impacted by the tariffs and to equip itself with a SURE-stye job protection mechanism coupled with a permanent investment facility up to the task of prioritising quality jobs in a volatile geopolitical environment.

European trade unions condemn the ‘unjustified’ tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump and call for a smart response from the EU which protects European jobs and industries.The 25% tariffs on foreign steel and aluminium announced by Trump will have negative consequences for European workers and companies, as the US is the second largest market for EU steel makers.

Adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 10-11 December 2024 According to the European Commission, digital trade covers trade in goods and services enabled by the internet and other information and communication technologies. This includes goods or services ordered online that are later delivered at home or through the internet such as apps on smartphones and computers; use of technologies such as those used for tracking in real time; transfer of data across borders (e.g. data stored in the cloud when working online).

The ETUC is calling for the Council of the EU and European Parliament to reject the EU-MERCOSUR trade and investment agreement in its current form due to concerns over weak labour protections. While the deal offers new opportunities for employment creation and cooperation between Europe and South America, trade unions continue to have concerns. The lack of transparency and democratic legitimacy in these negotiations has added to those concerns.

Statement by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the Coordinadora de Centrales Sindicales del Cono Sur (CCSCS) regarding the possible conclusion of negotiations on the EU-MERCOSUR Association Agreement  

Adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 24-25 June 2024

Adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 24-25 June 2024 In its Action Programme, adopted at its 15th statutory congress, ETUC promotes a peaceful resolution in Palestine, the respect of international law and demands the right of all peoples to self-determination, including that the EU considers the impact on workers when deploying sanctions.

  Brussels, 11 March 2024  Letter sent to  Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission     Dear Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis

Ahead of the forthcoming negotiating round with Indonesia, and given the increased commitments of the EU to Sustainable Development provisions within FTAs, the spotlight remains on Indonesia’s poor track record on labour rights.

On October 16, 2023, the European Parliament’s lead committees, the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and the Committee on International Trade (INTA) adopted, with an overwhelming majority, their position on the proposed on the proposed EU Forced Labour Regulation. The ETUC joined forces with civil society organisations to urge the EU Council to speed up negotiations to adopt a General Approach. The letter outlines four core elements that must be included in the Council's position:

Adopted at the Executive Committee of 27-28 September 2023

Together with civil society and trade union organisations, the ETUC has outlined essential conditions to address forced labour. These have been listed in a letter sent on Wednesday 13 September 2023 to the MEPs who sit on the European Parliament's Committees on Internal Market and the International Trade Committees. Please find the text of the letter below:

U.S.-EU Tripartite Trade and Labor Dialogue (TALD) Social Partner Joint Statement on Transatlantic Forced Labor Trade Strategy (see PDF file)  

Brussels, 15 May 2023 To the Members of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament Honourable Members of the European Parliament,

To: Members of the ETUC Standing Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Brussels, March 22nd, 2023 Dear colleagues, In the framework of the project “Prevention of OSH risks emerging from the dual transitions and at the centre of the EU trade strategy”, we wanted to hereby inform you that we have published two call for tenders for the subcontracting of experts to conduct research on the following two topics: Challenges for OSH and the dual transition: