Taking its rightful place? Legitimising discourse and EU actorness in the nexus of trade and regulation

This chapter engages with debates on European Union (EU) actorness in a regional and global context by analysing the challenges faced in the nexus between trade and regulation. Whilst it speaks with one voice in international organisations and has been proclaimed the champion of the "rules-based order" in trade, EU actorness varies with its purpose and context. This is evident in its varying ability to set global rules, export the Acquis Communautaire, and act as demandeur. In this chapter, we highlight the social construction of actorness, where EU actorness depends on the ways it conceptualises itself (purpose) and its means (instruments). How it manages its purpose and instruments, defines its legitimacy. The analytical focus is on the communicative discourse of the European Commission on trade regulation and the role of trade policy. Whilst multiple paradigms and discourses interact in EU trade policy-making, we highlight the legitimising discourse around three representations: the need to act, getting prepared to act, and taking its rightful place as an actor.