The European Union has approved new trade penalties for countries that block the return of failed migrants. Under the updated policy, nations refusing to take back their deported citizens could lose low-tariff access to the EU market.
No deport, no deal
The EU will start using trade policy as leverage in its efforts to enforce migrant returns, following a new agreement that allows it to suspend trade perks for countries that don’t accept deported nationals.
The move is part of a long-debated overhaul of the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP), a program that lowers tariffs on goods from developing nations.
According to documents seen by POLITICO, access to the EU’s low-tariff trade market will now be reviewed based on “the readmission of that country’s own nationals” who have been identified as irregular migrants.
A joint agreement on the legal text was reached by negotiators from the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the EU.
Trade rules get migration twist
The policy change reflects growing calls across Europe to enforce returns of irregular migrants, especially as far-right political parties gain influence.
The EU document outlines that “in case of serious and systematic shortcomings related to the international obligation to readmit a beneficiary country’s own nationals,” the trade preferences “may be withdrawn temporarily, in respect of all or of certain products originating in that beneficiary country.”
The updated measures are part of a broader effort to toughen enforcement, as many deportations are currently stalled by non-cooperation from the migrant’s home countries.
The EU is now clearly linking trade incentives with concrete cooperation on migration enforcement.
The migration clause will apply differently based on a country’s level of development. According to the document, the clause will be “applied with more or less stringent conditions depending on a country’s development level.”
The new enforcement mechanism will be integrated into the revised GSP, which has been in place for half a century.
The EU Council confirmed in a press release that “as a part of the work to create a more fair and effective approach to migration, the co-legislators also agreed that GSP preferences may be withdrawn if a beneficiary country does not [cooperate] with the EU on the readmission of their own nationals.”
Talks nearly fall apart over rice
Negotiations on the wider GSP reform nearly fell apart due to tensions over rice imports from some Asian nations.
According to POLITICO, concerns from EU rice producers—especially in Spain and Italy—were resolved by agreeing to a safeguard mechanism.
A 45% increase in imports will now trigger automatic protections, calculated using a 10-year average, an EU diplomat told the outlet on condition of anonymity.
New border tech enters picture
Alongside the trade penalties, the EU is reinforcing its migration enforcement tools with technology. Two key systems are being introduced: the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).
The EES, which began rolling out in October 2025, is a digital system that registers when non-EU nationals enter and exit the Schengen Area.
It replaces physical passport stamps and collects biometric data, helping border authorities track overstays and detect identity fraud. Full implementation is expected by April 2026.
The ETIAS, which is set to launch in late 2026, will require travelers from visa-exempt countries to apply for authorization before entering 30 European countries.
Though it doesn’t replace a visa, it adds a layer of security by screening travelers in advance.
Both systems are part of the EU’s broader effort to digitize and modernize border management, with an emphasis on security, efficiency, and faster processing at border checkpoints.
Political heat shapes EU’s move
The EU’s strategy to link trade and migration is emerging amid growing political pressure to control borders and respond to public concern.
The document notes that the push comes “amid major advances by far-right parties across Europe and calls for governments to get tougher on enforcing returns.”
Return rates have long been a challenge. Although the EU issues deportation orders for individuals whose asylum claims are rejected, only a fraction of those removals are carried out—often due to limited cooperation from countries of origin.
All eyes on first countries hit
The updated GSP legislation now awaits final formal approval from both the European Parliament and the Council.
Once adopted, the European Commission will be responsible for monitoring readmission cooperation and determining if trade preferences should be suspended.
No specific countries have been named yet, but several are likely to come under scrutiny as the EU begins applying the new rules.
As the process unfolds, the effectiveness of the new approach will depend on how consistently it is enforced—and how partner countries respond.