| Author (Corporate) | Cardiff EDC (Compiler) |
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| Publication Date | 1999- |
| Content Type | Overview |
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Summary: Reports, analyses and information on the negotiations undertaken between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur (or Mercosul) to conclude a trade agreement between the two regional markets. Further information: The Association Agreement (AA) between Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union is composed of a political and cooperation pillar, as well as a trade pillar. The negotiations for such an agreement began in June 2000 with the objective of achieving a greater level of political and economic cooperation and integrayion within the Mercosur and with the EU. The negotiations experienced different stages. In 2004, the EU and Mercosur held intensive negotiations aimed at concluding trade talks by the end of October. However, a ministerial meeting held on 31 October concluded that the negotiations required more time. The suspension of the negotiations followed an exchange of market offers, which revealed substantial differences concerning the level of liberalisation of trade in agricultural goods, services and public procurement markets. Trade talks resumed between 2010 and 2012. In May 2016, the two regional markets rel-aunched the negotiation process yet again, exchanged new market access offers and intensified the pace of negotiations by holding negotiation rounds and meeting at regular intervals. A political agreement was reached on 28 June 2019 as regards a trade agreement. The trade deal envisages the removal of the majority of tariffs on EU exports to Mercosur. Deforestation and wildfires affecting the Amazon forest - blamed on carelessness by some South American countries - brought into question the willingness by some EU member states to ratify the agreement, raising concerns over the length of the ratification process.
[This entry is a work in a progress, subject to further development] |
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| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations, Trade |
| Subject Tags | External Trade | Trade Agreements |
| Keywords | Association Agreement, Free Trade Agreement [FTA] |
| International Organisations | European Union [EU], Southern Common Market [MERCOSUR] |
