The EU sees "realistic possibilities" of agreements with Mexico and Mercosur this year

The European Union (EU) considered today that there are "realistic possibilities" to achieve the objective of concluding the negotiation of two trade agreements with Mexico and Mercosur by the end of year, although this will still have to overcome the differences especially in the agricultural sector.

Brussels, Nov 10 (EFE). - The European Union (EU) considered today that there are "realistic possibilities" to achieve the objective of concluding the negotiation of two trade agreements with Mexico and Mercosur by the end of the year, although this will still have to overcome the differences especially in the agricultural sector.

"We are making good progress, we have possibilities realistic to conclude by the end of the year, "said the European Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, at a press conference at the end of a Council of Trade Ministers of the EU in which They addressed the negotiation of the agreements with Mercosur and Mexico.

The commissioner admitted that "there is still work to be done, but we are working very hard."

The Council took stock of work with Mexico and Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) and supported the objective of closing "ambitious and balanced agreements in the near future", as well as the "momentum" that is being given to the work.

"Latin America is a key political and economic partner for Europe, and we are committed to concluding comprehensive trade agreements. and soon mutually beneficial, "said the Estonian Minister of Commerce, Urve Palo, whose country presides over the Council of the Union this semester.

According to him, an agreement "is now within reach", although for that "we have to make sure that the new business opportunities that are created will be balanced and will benefit the economy in the long term of the EU ".

Malmström recalled that the pact with Mexico is" an adaptation of an old agreement that was very modern at the time ", while the Mercosur treaty, which faces this week a new round of negotiation, goes through an "intense activity" that makes the negotiations go "very fast".

The Commissioner referred to the recent words of the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, in which he stressed the strategic and economic "importance" of this agreement, which represents, "only in tariffs, eight times more" than the closed agreement between the EU and Canada.

"There is strong support for concluding the agreement with Mercosur," Malmström said, although he acknowledged that "sensitivities" persist with regard to certain agricultural products such as beef, sugar or ethanol.

In this regard, he said that the EU will have to present Mercosur with a "final offer" (the first was considered insufficient), on which the European Commission maintains "internal discussions" before submitting it to the opinion of European countries.

France and other countries have already indicated that they want neither to block or precipitate the agreement and that the substance will continue to prevail over the calendar.

The commissioner stressed that there still has to be a final offer by both parties and that several chapters are still pending.

"On both sides we are committed to trying to finish by the end of the year, it is possible, if it happens or not, it's a bit early to know, but it is a political objective. "

According to him, there is" a window of opportunity that does not go much further than New Year's Eve, because one of the Mercosur countries, Brazil, will enter electoral campaign. "

During the working lunch, the ministers also discussed the negotiation of an economic treaty with Japan, after the political agreement reached on the 6th of July.

Malmström trusted that the agreement, which still has "technical" aspects pending with regard to the acceptance by Tokyo of a court that solves conflicts State-investor, may be closed "for Christmas."

He admitted however the possibility of separating the establishment of that court - which the EU wants to introduce in its new treaties commercial - of the economic agreement itself if Japan fails to admit it.

The ministers also reviewed the preparations for the eleventh ministerial conference of the World Organization del Comercio (WTO), which will take place from December 10 to 13 in Buenos Aires.

They emphasized the importance of maintaining the "central role" of the WTO in the multilateral trading system and the The need for the EU to work on "a substantial and balanced outcome" of the ministerial conference.