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This article examines how the Common Commercial Policy in the post-Lisbon era impacts citizens' rights both within the EU and in the partner countries. The EU's aspiration to pursue a normative agenda through trade has further been reinforced by the Lisbon Treaty, both with regard to the objectives of external action and the reformed trade policy-making processes. Concurrently, however, the EU has refocused its trade strategy on growth and competitiveness, and strongly advocated the conclusion of �new generation� free trade agreements. These agreements combine an ambitious �WTO-plus� agenda with normative issues such as provisions on human rights, a social dimension and sustainable development. The result of this dual approach is a mixed �constitutional balance�: whereas constitutional rights and competitiveness have the potential to reinforce each other with positive synergy effects, they may also result in tensions and policy incoherencies.
