Anti-Coercion Instrument
An EU instrument enabling retaliation against third countries exerting economic pressure to influence EU or Member State policies.
The Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI, Regulation 2023/2675) is an EU trade policy tool that entered into force in December 2023, designed to deter and counter attempts by third countries to exert economic pressure on the EU or its Member States.
Economic coercion refers to measures taken by a third country to influence the legitimate policy choices of the EU by restricting or threatening to restrict trade or investment.
The mechanism operates in several stages:
- Identification of coercion by the European Commission
- Examination and consultation with the third country concerned
- Dialogue and mediation: attempt at amicable resolution
- Counter-measures if dialogue fails: trade restrictions, increased customs duties, public procurement access restrictions, restrictions on services or investments
Examples of targeted situations: trade restrictions imposed by a third country in retaliation for an EU political position (such as Chinese restrictions on Lithuanian trade in 2021).
The ACI is a last resort instrument whose primary objective is deterrence. Its very existence aims to discourage coercion attempts.