Brussels, 16/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - In order to avoid a repeat of the 2004 failure, Europe and the South American Mercosur bloc are giving themselves more time to proceed with the exchange of offers on market access.
The EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela) have postponed their exchange of offers on agricultural and industrial market access. This was originally scheduled for 1 October at the last ministerial meeting between the two blocs last January.
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, which decided their common position in November on Mercosur's offer of market access, reportedly then had to submit their offers to Brussels this week, but those in charge of the two parties agreed to take a little more time in order to ensure that their offers are ambitious enough.
According to several sources, the Brazilian head of diplomacy, Luiz Alberto Figueiredo, and European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht apparently agreed on the postponement on the sidelines of the WTO conference in Bali at the beginning of December. “Given the Christmas break, the commissioner suggested to proceed with the exchange in early 2014. There is no questioning that the commitment is there on both sides. We expect to be able to fix soon a date for such an exchange”, said De Gucht's spokesperson, John Clancy, in mid-December. (EH/transl.fl)