On Wednesday 17 January, the European Commission announced that the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) negotiators will meet again in Brussels on 30 January at technical and political levels for "the last phase" of negotiations towards a trade agreement between the two blocs.
"This meeting will build on the progress made during the December discussions in Argentina and will also be held at ministerial level", a Commission spokesperson stated.
"The EU is committed to reach an ambitious, balanced and comprehensive trade agreement with Mercosur (...) that will have a positive impact on growth and job creation on both sides of the Atlantic (...) It will send a signal to the rest of world on the importance of open mutually beneficial and rules-based trade", the spokesperson added.
European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström informed the college of commissioners on Tuesday 16 January of the progress in the EU-Mercosur talks after intense negotiating on the sidelines of the 11th WTO ministerial conference in Buenos Aires in mid-December (see EUROPE 11923 and 11925).
"It is important that both sides also meet each other's expectations to try to bridge the remaining differences and reach a mutually beneficial outcome", the Commission spokesperson stated, saying that the outstanding questions involved market access for industrial and agricultural products, especially cars and automotive parts, but also dairy products, the rules of origin and transition periods, the protection of geographical indications and "the possibilities of access" to maritime services.
"We expect this meeting to mark this final stretch towards a trade deal and to pave the way for possible necessary next steps that should happen very shortly afterwards. The Commission will approach this decisive stage of the negotiations with the same transparent and constructive attitude just as we did all along the way while recognising each other's sensitivities", the spokesperson added, giving assurances that the EU member states "will be consulted on every step of the process". (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)