Brussels, 13/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Studies analysing the impact on agriculture and industry of a free-trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Venezuela on its way to joining) will be “ready in a few days”, promised Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht following the meeting of European trade ministers in Brussels on Friday 13 May. “There will be no exchange of offers (on market access) before the Council has studied the impact assessments”, he confirmed, stressing the effect on European agriculture (for a foretaste of the European Commission reports, see EUROPE 10368 and 10369). Despite further progress at the 5th round of talks in Asunción on 2-6 May, both the European and South American parties have delayed exchanging their respective offers on market access until a later date. This will now probably not happen until the 7th round of negotiations, scheduled for 7-11 November in Montevideo. Negotiators will meet before then, in Brussels on 4-8 July. (E.H./transl.rt)