“I have never felt as much interest in launching or signing agreements with us”, said the European Commissioner for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, at an event organised by the European Policy Centre think tank on Thursday 5 June. The day before, at an OECD meeting in Paris, he met no fewer than eight trade ministers from around the world with whom the EU is seeking to strengthen its economic relations.
This is particularly the case with India, as the Commissioner for Trade pointed out in Paris on 4 June and again in Brussels on 5 June. He expressed confidence that negotiations on the trade agreement with New Delhi would be concluded by the end of the year (see EUROPE 13590/1): “These negotiations are not easy, but I think we can do it”. He said he was in almost daily contact with the Indian Minister for Trade, Piyush Goyal.
The two blocs are far apart on a number of issues, including agricultural trade. However, the Commission wants to focus on new types of agreement that are “leaner if needed”, but which can deliver results more quickly, in the words of the Commissioner.
In Paris, he also met Australia’s Minister for Trade, Don Farrell. Negotiations for an EU-Australia trade agreement were brought to an abrupt halt a few steps from the finish line in July 2023. However, the two partners plan to resume discussions shortly. According to Mr Šefčovič, substantial progress can be made this year.
The European and Australian leaders also discussed closer ties between the EU and the member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Among the thirteen members of this alliance, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand are calling for enhanced structured cooperation between the CPTPP and the EU. The European Commissioner confirmed their mutual interest. “We believe that we can really work in many areas that are not yet covered by the few bilateral free trade agreements in force”, insisted Mr Šefčovič.
Recently, Sweden’s Minister for Trade, Benjamin Dousa, called for greater collaboration with the CPTPP, and possibly even EU participation (see EUROPE 13641/1). (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)