Brussels, 02/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - Translating the impatience of business circles at the slow pace of the EU-Mercosur free trade negotiations, calls in Uruguay are mounting for the negotiation of a bilateral EU-Uruguay trade agreement.
“Uruguay is losing precious time. Mercosur does not exist and there is no excuse for not attempting a one to one trade agreement with the EU”, says Paul Riezler, head of the European chamber of commerce in Uruguay and of the German-Uruguayan chamber of commerce, as quoted in South Atlantic news agency Merco Press on 1 February. “The EU says it only negotiates at blocks' level, but it also happens it has signed agreements with Chile, Mexico, Colombia and Peru”, he adds.
In Riezler's view, although some of the difficulties in finding an agreement are the EU's, “Mercosur also has its share” - in particular because Argentina has been more reluctant to conclude this agreement, while Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay have shown more interest on reaching it. “Uruguay can reach an agreement with the EU, through Mercosur or, if not, on its own. But not in three years' time. The right moment is now. Uruguay can't afford to lose more time”, insists Riezler, believing that the entry into force of the new Uruguayan administration in March would be the right time for “strategic change”.
The EU and Mercosur have been negotiating an association agreement, including a free trade area, since 1999. After being frozen for six years, the negotiations were relaunched in 2010. Despite commitment made at ministerial level in January 2013, the exchange of offers on market access, which cover agricultural and industrial products, and also services and government procurement, has still not come about. (EH)