The European Union and Mexico will hold two additional
negotiating rounds before summer as part of an accelerated
negotiation schedule for a new, reformed Free Trade Agreement.
The dates of the upcoming rounds (3-7 April and 26-29 June) were
agreed by Commissioner for Trade,
Cecilia Malmström, and the Minister of
Economy of Mexico, Ildefonso Guajardo. As part of this new
schedule, fixed during a phone conversation, the two also agreed
to meet in Mexico City between these rounds to take stock and
push negotiators for further progress.
In a joint statement following their phone call,
Commissioner Malmström and Minister of
Economy Guajardo said:
"We will take our trade relations fully into the 21st
Century. We will be able to boost growth, making our firms more
competitive and widening choices for consumers while creating
jobs. Together, we are witnessing the worrying rise of
protectionism around the world. Side by side, as like-minded
partners, we must now stand up for the idea of global, open
cooperation. We are already well underway in our joint efforts to
deepen openness to trade on both sides. Now, we will accelerate
the pace of these talks in order to reap the benefits
sooner."
Last year, the EU and Mexico initiated negotiations to update
the existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) from 2000.
Global trade patterns have changed substantially during the
sixteen-year period, pointing to the need for a broader and more
far-reaching FTA. The purpose of this modernising process is to
better mirror other ambitious trade deals that the EU and Mexico
have negotiated lately.
Between 2005 and 2015, the yearly trade flow of goods between the
two partners more than doubled (from €26 billion to €53 billion),
against the backdrop of the existing Free Trade Agreement.
In line with the European Commission's commitment to a more
transparent trade and investment policy, the EU's negotiating
proposals in these talks are available online. The six proposals,
representing the EU's initial negotiating position, are aimed at
modernising different elements of the current EU-Mexico
agreement. There is also a report on the latest
negotiating round available.
