30/03/2017 (Agence Europe) – Despite the great “optimism” expressed by European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström at political level, negotiations for an update of the comprehensive EU-Mexico agreement are at a very low ebb after three rounds of talks at technical level, a diplomatic source told EUROPE on Thursday 30 March, adding that many subjects had proven “controversial” and that by the Commission's own admission, increased access for the EU to the Mexican market would be “difficult”. The chances of agreement in 2017 are “low”, the source went on to say. Talks for the update of the comprehensive EU-Mexico agreement were launched in May 2016. Two rounds of talks are scheduled – one in April, the other at the end of June (see EUROPE 11716). (EH)