14 October 2025, Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, hosted the Informal Meeting of EU Trade Ministers. Discussions focused on the state of EU-US trade relations, ongoing bilateral trade negotiations, and economic security.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, stated:
“Denmark has assumed the presidency of the EU at a time when the international rules-based trading system is under immense pressure. We are no longer in a position to take anything for granted. Unfortunately, this includes our trade with countries with whom we have traded closely and freely throughout generations. For this reason, we have to expand and strengthen our trade relations with different partners globally, and that is exactly what we have discussed in Horsens today.”
Ministers discussed recent challenges to the trade relationship between the EU and the US, including the further implementation and development of the recently concluded agreement. Ministers also discussed trade aspects of economic security with a particular focus on how the announced economic security doctrine can help reduce the EU’s vulnerabilities and strengthen our resilience. Finally, ministers discussed the EU’s bilateral trade agreements where there is good progress in a number of negotiation tracks that can contribute to counteracting the challenges to the international trading system.