From "Made in Europe" to "Made with Common Values": A Path to Equitable Trade Relations
Article
10 juni 2025
For years, trade between Europe and Africa has been shaped by familiar dynamics: European markets importing African commodities, while exporting manufactured goods and technology back to the continent. Embedded in this are power dynamics, history and a ‘business as usual’ approach.
Meridian17
Yet, recent shifts in global trade policies, have intensified Europe's push towards "strategic autonomy" and "self-sufficiency", embodied in initiatives such as the Net Zero Industry Act, the upcoming review of the Public Procurement Directive, and Industrial Decarbonisation Act. While primarily aimed at reducing dependence on major rivals like China and the United States, these policies risk inadvertently sidelining African economies.
The core issue lies in Europe's new "non-price criteria," a policy mechanism designed to ultimately give preference to "Made in Europe" solutions. The intention is to bolster local industries, but if African partners are not involved, this could create a scenario where long-standing cooperation is lost, and African countries face economic isolation. Such outcomes would conflict with Europe's stated goals of equitable and inclusive growth, undermining decades of development and diplomatic efforts.
The concept of "Made with Common Values" presents an alternative, advocating for a cooperative model founded not on geographical origin but on shared principles—such as environmental sustainability, labour rights, transparency, and ethical governance. This approach would not only maintain existing African-European partnerships but deepen them.
Why shared values matter
The "Made with Common Values" framework moves beyond symbolic cooperation, embedding practical criteria directly into procurement and trade agreements. This idea is similar to the "Data Free Flow with Trust" concept championed by Japan. "Data Free Flow with Trust" successfully gathered support from over 70 countries to build mutual trust around data governance. The "Common Values" approach emphasises clear, agreed-upon standards and trust-based collaboration. Essentially common values are about ‘what’, not ‘how’ – essentially establishing the goal of what is to be done, with freedom in how to achieve it.
Such an approach could benefit African and European stakeholders alike, we are stronger together. For instance, in renewable energy, where both continents have ambitious goals, collaborative value chains could combine Europe's technological leadership with Africa's abundant renewable resources, creating win-win scenarios rather than competitive tensions.
Three concrete steps toward equitable trade
To operationalise this vision, European and African policymakers can take tangible actions in at least the following three ways:
Upcoming EU legislation, particularly the Industrial Decarbonisation Act expected in December 2025 and the public procurement directive review in 2026, should explicitly integrate the “Made with Common Values” criteria. Public consultations are ongoing, offering a critical window to advocate for inclusive definitions.
Both continents should convene high-level dialogues aligning with key policy milestones, beyond the upcoming AU-EU Ministerial Meeting, in May of this year. Positioning “Made with Common Values” prominently on the agenda can shift discussions from abstract ideals to concrete policy commitments.
To ensure genuine inclusivity, European regulatory frameworks must avoid overly burdensome complexity. Simplifying compliance requirements and offering transparent, equitable access for African businesses - especially SMEs - can reduce entry barriers and enhance genuine participation.
Conclusion
Europe’s pursuit of strategic autonomy need not come at Africa’s expense. By redefining cooperation around common values rather than geography, both continents can navigate global economic uncertainties together, fostering deeper integration and sustainable growth. Moving from "Made in Europe" to "Made with Common Values" isn't merely a semantic shift - it’s a fundamental recalibration toward true partnership.
Opinions presented belong exclusively to the author(s) and may not represent those of Meridian17.
References and further reading:
European Commission. (n.d.). Net-Zero Industry Act Explained (accessed 29 April 2025). https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/industry/sustainability/net-zero-industry-act_en
European Commission. (n.d.). Public Procurement Directive Review (accessed 29 April 2025). https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/public-procurement_en
European Commission. (2025). Industrial Decarbonisation Act Public Consultation (accessed 28 April 2029). https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14505-Industrial-Decarbonisation-Accelerator-Act-speeding-up-decarbonisation_en
Delegation of the EU to the AU. (2025) African Union and European Union Celebrate 25 Years of Strengthened Partnership (accessed 28 April 2025). https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/african-union-au/african-union-and-european-union-celebrate-25-years-strengthened-partnership_en
