Research

The central question motivating my research is: To what extent does international cooperation to liberalize trade affect the ability of governments to pursue public policy objectives, particularly consumer and environmental protection? Although my research focuses on the European Union, it is inherently comparative, with the United States as the explicit or implicit comparator.  There are three strands to my research on the interaction of trade and regulatory policies:

• EU trade politics
• EU compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules (UK Economic and Social Research Council)
• The European Union in Global Technology Governance (Jean Monnet Chair)
• Governing the Digital Economy (Jean Monnet Center of Excellence 2020-23_

These three strands of research come together in my analysis of the on-going negotiation of a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the world’s most ambitious and most valuable preferential trade agreement.

Building off of my core research, I also contribute to two broader literatures:

• Policy-making in the EU
• The EU as a regional and global actor

I am also actively studying the process and implications of the UK’s changing relationship with the EU (Brexit).