Ecuador joins EU-Colombia/Peru trade agreement

The European Commissioner for Trade signed on 11 November 2016 the Protocol of Accession of Ecuador to the European Union's Trade Agreement with Colombia and Peru.

Talks for a trade agreement between the three South American countries and the EU were launched in January 2009, but Ecuador decided to suspend its participation in the negotiations a few months later. Talks on the trade agreement with the remaining countries were concluded in March 2010, with its provisional application starting in March 2013 with Peru and August 2013 with Colombia.

In May 2013 Ecuador signalled its willingness to resume the talks and to join the Agreement with Colombia and Peru. Negotiations formally resumed in January 2014 and were concluded in July 2014. It still needed the endorsement from the European Parliament before its provisional application.

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Protocol of Accession to the Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part, to take account of the accession of Ecuador http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-council-decision-on-the-signing-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-and-provisional-application-of-the-protocol-of-accession-to-the-trade-agreement-between-the-european-union-and-its-memb/

ESO: Background information: EU-Latin America trade relations: Overview and figures http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-latin-america-trade-relations-overview-and-figures/

EurActiv, 21.11.16: Ecuadorian VP: EU trade deal ‘is unlike other agreements’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/ecuadorian-vp-eu-trade-deal-is-unlike-other-agreements/

ESO: Background information: Relations between Ecuador and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/relations-between-ecuador-and-the-eu/

---