Swiss Economic Affairs Minister wants to speed up a free trade agreement between Switzerland and Mercosur, but there is concern in the agricultural sector
Negotiators for the European Union and Latin American bloc Mercosur have concluded two weeks of talks in Brussels on a free trade deal with no clear breakthrough and no formal offers made.
The EU has conceded to increase its beef import quota offer by almost 30,000t in a bid to reach agreement on the much-anticipated Mercosur trade deal, a parliamentary source has claimed.
The European Union is currently negotiating a series of new free trade agreements that would have a negative impact on consumer rights, environmental standards and democratic principles.
As trade officials desperately try to move the long-delayed EU-Mercosur agreement forward, we must stop and consider that this deal is likely to go far beyond the balance of trade, and increase economic, social and political divisions within both continents.
The European Union has offered to open its markets to more beef from Latin American bloc Mercosur. The EU hopes an improved offer will encourage Mercosur to open its markets to cars and EU dairy produce more rapidly and allow EU companies to bid in public tenders.