Philippe De Baere

Philippe is Managing Partner of Van Bael & Bellis. His practice focuses on international and WTO trade law, EU customs law and Brexit-related matters.

Philippe has been involved in most major EU trade defence proceedings since 1990. He represents international clients before the European Commission, the European Courts, WTO Panels and the WTO Appellate Body. Notable cases before the European Courts include MTZ Polyfilms v Council, Far Eastern Textile, Ltd. v Council and Giant (China) Co. Ltd v Council.

In the area of WTO trade law, Philippe has assisted WTO Members in various leading WTO dispute settlement proceedings. Philippe represented Ukraine in Russia – Measures concerning Traffic in Transit (DS512), the first time a panel ruled on the conditions governing a national security defence under Article XXI of the GATT 1994, and China in EC – Definitive Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Iron or Steel Fasteners from China, where the Appellate Body ruled that the EU’s Basic Anti-Dumping Regulation, as such, was incompatible with the EU’s WTO obligations.

Philippe also advises sovereign clients during FTA negotiations and disputes.

Joined Van Bael & Bellis in 1988, became a Partner in 1994.

Brussels Bar, IBA.

Regularly speaks and writes on trade law matters.