Brussels, 03/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - Sources in Brussels say that the EU-Algeria talks on updating the phasing out of tariff barriers are close to a definitive agreement, as has been suggested by Algerian newspapers. Sources in Brussels quoted in the Algerian media say that the talks are now concentrating on a few remaining tariff lines (of the total 1,740 products under discussion). A compromise solution is expected to be reached, which will then need the approval of the 27 EU member states and writing up as a formal agreement at some unspecified date in the near future. The official Algerian press agency says that a final agreement in genuinely not far off and the Algerian media point out that the fate of only 20 industrial products remains to be agreed upon. On farm products, the two sides have agreed on 36 agricultural import quotas on which customs duty is charged in Algeria, some of which will be made zero-duty, while others are adjusted. The EU-Algeria association agreement, signed in 2002 and which came into force in 2005, foresees the phasing out of two series of EU products exported to Algeria, one of which this year and the second in 2017. (FB/transl.fl)