Brussels, 31/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - Despite progress at a technical level, negotiations for an association agreement between the EU and Mercosur remain at a standstill in the chapter on trade.
The 15th meeting of the EU/Mercosur negotiating committee on 22-26 October in Brasilia failed to provide any breakthrough on trade aspects in the association agreement between the EU 27 and their Latin American partners, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. Negotiators continued their work on clarifying the positions of the two trading blocs. Progress was observed in the chapter on services and establishment, investment, customs, trade facilitation and public procurement. The two parties also held a constructive debate on trade and sustainable development.
The exchange of offers, however, with regard to access to agricultural and industrial markets did not materialise. The Commission expressed hope that the ministerial EU/Mercosur meeting planned for January 2013 in Santiago at the EU/Latin American and Caribbean summit could provide a new boost to negotiations. John Clancy, spokesman for Commissioner for trade Karel De Gucht, said that after more than two years of discussions on the normative part of the agreement, the EU considers that is now time to proceed to an exchange of offers on market access if there is going to be a further impetus for talks on the conclusion of an ambitious and balanced trade agreement.
The trade chapter in the EU/Mercosur association agreement intends to go further than the obligations imposed on the two sides by the WTO. It seeks to extend the liberalisation of trade in goods and services, whilst taking into account sensitive issues for both sides. The agreement will also cover investment, public procurement, sustainable development, intellectual property, geographical indications and competition. It will also include an agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary standards, as well as a mechanism for settling disputes. (EH/transl.fl)