There is intensive lobbying by European sugar beet growers against the prospect of widening of EU quotas for non EU cane sugar as part of ongoing bilateral free trade negotiations. Yet it might only be a matter of time until the EU allows more import of cane sugar from outside …
LatAm & Caribbean
Mercosur: EU tables dispute settlement review clause for labour and environment
The EU Commission made public the terms of the dispute settlement mechanism it tabled during the last round of trade negotiations with Mercosur in early October 2017 in Brasilia for the planned ‘sustainable development’ chapter. The EU body also released its assessment of this round of talks, revealing the most …
In brief: EU and Mercosur continue talking on Marrakesh sidelines
The EU and the South American bloc Mercosur are meeting again on the sidelines of the mini WTO ministerial meeting currently held in Morocco, the Commission announced today. The step follows a negotiation round towards a long-sought free trade agreement in Brasilia last week (2-6 October 2017) that put …
Mercosur – 11 EU capitals put brakes on EU TRQ offer as bargain outline emerges
The EU is preparing to table a new tariff offer to the South American trading bloc ahead of a new round of negotiations starting on Monday (2 October 2017). Eleven member states are attempting to put a brake on an offer to extend tariff rate quotes on beef, poultry, sugar, …
Blog – midweek EU trade roundup – CETA, digital, bananas, Brexit transition
Not every day is scoop bonanza in trade policy. One of these days seems to be today. But there are a few files sizzling in the background that will lead to further stories down the road. CETA day coming Of course, tomorrow, 21 September, CETA is coming into …
Sugar: EU beets won’t take Brazil cane beating
Since free trade talks between the EU and the South American bloc Mercosur were revived in 2016, there has been no serious negotiation on one of the most sensitive topics in their trading relationship: sugar. But EU and Brazil sugar industries are already active on the battleground over what could …
INTA agrees on Chile free trade wish list
The EU is preparing to launch negotiations to modernise a 2002 Association Agreement with Chile that includes a free trade agreement. Trade MEPs agreed on their wish list for the negotiations during a trade committee vote on Tuesday (11 July 2017). Agreement did not go without a small amendment game over the issue of …
Agriculture: Eleven member states want EU Mercosur talks suspension
The Council meeting on agriculture and fisheries held in Brussels on Monday (12 June 2017) lay bare a deep divide over ongoing trade policy between a group of countries made up of Southern European countries, Ireland, and Central and Eastern European countries, and the rest of the EU. Eleven countries called on the EU to take a cautious …
Hogan: Brazil meat scandal no obstacle to concluding Mercosur trade pact in 2017
The EU and the South American trade bloc Mercosur have vowed to conclude their ongoing free trade negotiations by the end of the year 2017. Though to many the goal seems highly ambitious, both sides are trying to get there at a time when Argentina tries to take the lead …
African Caribbean Pacific group fears consequences of EPAs, Brexit
ACP countries met in Brussels this week to discuss ways to better coordinate their coming relationships with the European Union. Signs are the disparate group of 79 countries – all former colonies of EU member states – has found some common ground as a successor agreement to the 2020 Cotonou …
