EU: Germany wants to push the EU/Mercosur trade agreement with Brazil

Germany is looking to push the EU/Mercosur trade agreement. On monday Minister Steinmeier said. “In Germany the administration of Chancellor Merkel is very much interested in speeding the EU/Mercosur trade agreement and we hope in can be achieved in the near future. We are doing our upmost to that effect.”

The EU is currently negotiating a trade agreement with Mercosur as part of the overall negotiation for a bi-regional Association Agreement. The objective is to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement, covering not only trade in industrial and agricultural goods but also services.

The EU/Mercosur negotiations were re-launched a couple of years ago, and despite some grumblings from Argentina Mercosur finally managed a joint proposal referred to goods, services, investments and government purchases. However the EU this time has had more difficulties than Mercosur in reaching a consensus because several European countries headed by France and Ireland fear the competition from South American farm produce, and are very much concerned with unemployment rates.

This has considerably delayed the process inside the EU to reach a consensus on the proposals’ list.

“We’re waiting for a reply from Brussels to begin the last leg of negotiations”, said Brazilian minister Vieira. “This, he added ”was the message from President Rousseff to minister Steinmeier, we’re waiting for an EC reply”.

Full Content: Merco Press

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