‘Argentina’s behaviour’ main obstacle for EU/Mercosur trade talks says Brussels
The European Union Trade Commissioner openly accused “Argentina’s behaviour” as the main obstacle in discussions to advance and reach a free trade agreement with Mercosur.
“I can’t understand why they insisted so much in reopening negotiations in 2010 and now some of its members display a behaviour that does not help the negotiations”, said Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht on Thursday speaking to the press in Geneva
“We were forced to go to the World Trade Organization against Argentina in several complaints together with the US, Japan and Mexico, which obviously does not help with the adequate climate for a negotiation that leads us to a free trade agreement”, added the Commissioner.
In the last six months, Argentina has been demanded in seven complaints at the WTO as a result of a trade war which was triggered by the imports’ restriction policy imposed by the administration of Cristina Fernandez and which several countries consider as ‘protectionist’ and contrary to the spirit of free trade.
The debate and complaints from many WTO members became a fact when on 25 May the EU decided to formalize a consultation process with Argentina on the issue. This was followed by President Cristina Fernandez administration decision to nationalize a majority stake in Spain’s oil corporation Repsol, so far with no compensation.
Buenos Aires again reacted on 20 August filing complaints against the EU and Spain because of alleged damaging restrictions to imports of Argentine bio-diesel. A day later the US and Japan did something similar but complaining about Argentina’s restrictive imports’ policy and ‘balanced trade’ demanded from corporations operating in the country.
Nevertheless De Gucht said he was hopeful about the next EU/Mercosur meeting, scheduled for January in Santiago de Chile on the sides of the leaders’ summit of the Community of Latam and Caribbean states, CELAC
“We hope that in the next meeting we can make some positive advances”, although he also pointed out that “the ball is now in the South American court”.
“We are expecting Mercosur to tell us they are willing to negotiate. Although the truth is we need them to tell us what their position in the goods and services chapters is. We’ve advanced enormously in rules and regulations, but we are still waiting for their proposal regarding goods and services” revealed de Gucht.
This statement sound completely opposite to what Argentite president CFK said at the latest Mercosur summit, where she stated that South American countries are waiting first to know the true intentions of EU, before sitting down to talk.
Next January 24, President Rousseff will be hosting in Brasilia EC president Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, the head of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy and de Gucht. The meeting will take place following the CELAC summit.
The EU 27 members and Mercosur re-launched, in May 2010, negotiations for a free trade agreement after six years of stalled discussions. The EU complained about tariffs on industrial goods and likewise Mercosur complained about EU agriculture tariffs, subsidies and protectionism.
Mercosur is made up of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela and Paraguay currently suspended, while Bolivia at the moment an associate member has started talks to become a full member.
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“I can’t understand why they insisted so much in reopening negotiations in 2010 and now some of its members display a behaviour that does not help the negotiations” says Mr. De Gucht .........”
Well Mr. De Gucht .......
That's maybe because that was two and half years ago and the economical situation in Mercosur was quite different in 2010.....
But don't you worry...... We will reach an agreement.... Eventually ;-)
With Argentina's ecomony in the toilet, you'd better start praying that they reach an agreement soon, before you loose everything.....
I'm sure that KFC is enjoying playing “Deal or no Deal” on an international level, but these arepeoples lives she is play with.
At that point we will have every legitimate country in South American ( boivianiarn socialist nutters excluded) in an FTA with the USA.
Still,
She could just sit on Karel De Gucht lap,
And talk about the first thing that pops up ??
.
Einstein said, Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. By this definition, these Eurocrats are insane.
Go
Friday, December 14th 2012 - 04:45 UTC
‘Argentina’s behaviour’ main obstacle for EU/Mercosur trade talks says Brussels'
Good.
Unlikely, its still worthwhile Brazil running Mercosur for political ends, they already run it economically (despite the best attempts at sabotage by Argentinas government).
but Brazil wont want, or like, the Chavez/CFK/Iran set growing stronger and the best way for it to keep a lid on that sort of stupidity is via Mercosur, so it will keep using as it has done, to keep the reigns, where it can, on as much self-destructive stupidity as it can do (by everybody else in mercosur that is, not by itself)
If bloc agreements are impossible, Europe should not hang about ... bilaterals should be the order of the day, before the USA and/or China tie-up all the things that Europe needs, both input and output.
Europe ... DO IT with Brasil and Chile as soon as possible.
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/12/royal-navy-officer-jailed-russia
We dont need any Argentine gadgety export goods.
We are not UK and not coquettish like them
Argentina is cluttered out if we simply touch it.
Is possibly the USA navy patrolling the coast of Argentina,
Just in case CFK tries to smuggle them in..
Through nostril’s back garden ..
You are not astute.
And I don’t weigh as much either.
.
To-date it’s the EU has only talked in terms of a mercosur deal, this may be the first indication that is about to change.
To be fair to Argentina, Venezuela has only just joined mercosur and Chav has been otherwise occupied, so there has not been time for them to create the same sort of obstacles.
Everything is for energy/commodity ,the rest is theather.
ARGENTINA ALWAYS THE VICTIM.
I hope you're right, but it seems unlikely in the short term.
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