<p>Organiser: EuroCommerce " The main goal of this session is to create a common understanding of the importance of free global trade and the dangers that nationalism and protectionism pose to our businesses and our society. Protectionism has grown over recent years, causing tensions with many key EU trading partners. Trade policy is increasingly used as a vehicle to export non-trade related issues such as human rights or environmental goals. At the same time, the use of EU trade defense measures has increased, and there are calls to further strengthen and expand their use. The new trade reality has a significant impact on the competitiveness of the EU, and the EU should avoid pressures to follow suit. Instead, the focus should lie on intensifying the efforts in reaching free trade agreements with like-minded countries around the world. The debate on the future of European trade will be approached from different angles by speakers representing the academic, political and economic perspectives. In a discussion between the speakers and the participants of the EU Industry Days it will be debated, if the future of European trade lies in protectionism or free trade."</p>