Brussels, 04/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - The second session of negotiations on Ecuador's joining the multipartite trade agreement with Colombia and Peru has brought about notable progress - although important issues are still on the negotiating table, the European Commission states on 31 March.
The second round of trade talks between the EU and Ecuador in Manta on 24-28 March “delivered good progress towards the conclusion of the deal”, according to the Commission. Discussions focused on the four chapters of the negotiations already addressed during the first round in January - goods, services, public procurement and the protection of geographical indications. The negotiators also discussed the amendments needed to take account of Ecuador's joining the already existing multipartite free-trade agreement between the EU, Colombia and Peru. “The round brought results in all these areas and significantly reduced the number of open issues. Nevertheless, some important matters are still on the table”, said the Commission this week. No date has yet been fixed for the third round of talks.
In 2009, Ecuador suspended its participation in the trade negotiations between the EU and three of the four countries of the Andean Community - Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The door to the multipartite agreement still remains open to their neighbour - Bolivia.
EU exports to Ecuador stood at €2.3 billion in 2012, while imports (mainly agricultural products and raw materials) stood at €2.4 billion. (EH)