Brussels, 26/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay) are expected to present their proposal of liberalisation on Monday during the 6th negotiation round for an association and free trade agreement, to be held in Brussels, on 29 and 30 October. This offer on the dismantling of customs duties on goods, the liberalisation of services and the opening of access to public markets should cover liberalisation of at least 90% of trade over ten years, as provided for in the WTO rules on regional agreements. It will be an offer "of the same substance" as that presented by the EU in July, states Roberto Lavagna, the Argentine Ambassador for the EU.
In July, the EU had presented a 10-year offer of liberalisation on 90% of agricultural products and 100% of industrial products, while customs duties on the most sensitive products of the agricultural sector (cereals, chicken, dairy product, rice, olive oil …) would be dismantled in the context of quotas only (see EUROPE of 6 July). In practice, "only 38% of agricultural trade would be liberalised and most of the sensitive products for the EU, which are of interest to us, are excluded", stresses Ambassador Roberto Lavagna. "It is clear that, if we open our markets in the agricultural field, it will be for products that are not subsidised at exportation", he specifies.
The position of Mercosur was adopted on Thursday in Montevideo, in Uruguay, which holds the rotating Mercosur presidency. It will, for the first time officially on Monday, be presented to the EU that should limit itself to "taking note". Mercosur should, for its part, call for details on the European offer. At this stage, "it is more a question of getting to know what our positions are. Real negotiations will begin during the 7th round, to be held in December in Uruguay", comments one European source.