Mechanizmy i instrumenty wspólnej polityki handlowej. Implikacje dla Polski

The European Union is undoubtedly the world’s largest trade power. According to the data from the World Trade Organization, the value of goods exported by the European Union in 2010 totalled USD 1,787 billion, which accounted for 15 per cent of global exports of goods. The European Union is also the world’s largest importer of goods. In 2010, the European market imported goods worth a total of USD 1,977 billion, which accounted for 13.5 per cent of global imports of goods. The position of the EU in the trade in services is similar. Reflecting on the causes of the current position of the European Union in world trade, we should analyse the principles of EU’s trade policies, which create conditions for the development of the trade exchange of the individual Member States and of the entire group. This article will not only focus on the essence of the common commercial policy, but also consider changes to the Polish commercial policy related to Poland’s accession to the European Union.