EU to Focus on Bilateral Trade Agreements, European Governments Say
Although the EU remains committed to further development of the multilateral trading system, “its immediate focus is on developing its bilateral trade relations,” including with the U.S., the European Council said in conclusions following its Feb. 7-8 meeting. Building on progress in recent months, “all efforts should be devoted to pursuing agreements with key partners, prioritising those negotiations that will provide most benefit in terms of growth the jobs,” it said.
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Government ministers: (1) Stressed their support for a comprehensive trade agreement with the U.S. which pays special attention to more transatlantic regulatory convergence. (2) Looked forward to the launch of negotiations with Japan at an upcoming EU-Japan summit. (3) Said they expect talks with Canada to be completed “very shortly.” (4) Emphasized that in the short term, the priority for EU talks with Russia must be ensuring that that country puts in place commitments stemming from its accession to the WTO.
European priorities with China in the short run should focus on investment, market access, procurement and intellectual property rights, council members said. Negotiations with key emerging economies are also important, they said. Talks with India “require further efforts,” and trade relations with other ASEAN countries should be deepened. The Council also called for progress on association agreements, including deep and comprehensive free trade agreements (DCFTAs) with Moldova, Georgia and Armenia; launch of talks on DCFTAs with Morocco and rapid progress toward talks with Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan; and development of a renewed partnership with the African/Caribbean/Pacific countries via conclusion of economic partnership agreements.
The EU also remains committed to successful negotiations in the WTO Doha Development Agenda, and wants progress towards a multilateral pact on trade facilitation by the December 2013 WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali.