Trade ministers gathering informally in Brussels on Friday (13 October 2017) discussed the announcements by Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in his September State of the Union speech: new free trade agreements, the separation of negotiating tracks for EU-only trade agreements and ‘mixed’ investment agreements, the publication of member state trade …
Mercosur
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 …
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 …
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 …
Blog – Chin chin Mercosur
Spain’s Mariano Rajoy is visiting Brazil and Uruguay this week for a trade promotion tour and to talk EU Mercosur free trade. This is a good moment to look into some of the – many – sensitive files in the talks: agriculture and wine and spirits. Latin America is …
In brief: Argentina wants “living” EU Mercosur agreement
Argentina’s foreign minister Susana Malcorra reiterated Argentina’s wish to see the recently re-launched EU-Mercosur free trade negotiations finalised in 2017 during a trip to Brussels on Thursday (20 April 2017). Mauricio Macri’s government wants to send a strong pro-market and pro-trade signal to the world. Buenos Aires will be the location of …
EU farm groups call for more controls on Brazilian beef
Update Friday 24 March 2017: the EU has asked Brazil to suspend its beef shipments voluntarily, to avoid having to impose a bigger import ban. Brazil has refused. EU meat producers are calling for more controls on imports of Brazilian beef amidst a local meat scandal, and for caution …
Argentina’s Macri seeks reassurance on EU Mercosur deal
There is nothing concrete to expect out of the meetings Argentinean President Mauricio Macri has held in Paris this week-end and in Brussels today. Buenos Aires is seeking reassurance that the EU Mercosur negotiations, relaunched in May, will go ahead, despite the likelihood of the United Kindgom leaving the EU …
