
The European Union and the Mercosur trade bloc resumed on Monday a new round of talks in Brussels aimed at reaching free trade agreement in the near future after years of no talks. In the immediate the blocs are seeking to outline a work scheme that could be kicked off in December.

Chambers of Commerce from Europe, Brazil and Uruguay called on their governments to give a new thrust to negotiations for an ambitious cooperation and trade EU/Mercosur agreement.

World Bank's Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean Augusto de la Torre said that the Latin American economy will grow between 5.5 and 6% this year spurred mostly by a good performance from Mercosur members.

The increase in demand for meat will force world production to more than double by 2050, when the globe’s population is estimated to reach 9 billion, according to Arturo Lavallol a member of the International Meat Organization (OPIC) currently holding its 18th congress in Buenos Aires.

Next Wednesday Mercosur country members are scheduled to meet in Brazil to coordinate for the coming round of Mercosur/European Union trade negotiations that will be taking place in Brussels, October 11 to 15.

In anticipation of a new round of Mercosur/European Union trade talks to take place in Brussels, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht confirmed he remained hopeful a deal could be struck in the coming twelve months, following the recent experience with South Korea.

The European Union said differences with Argentina over food import impediments belonged to the past, but in private warned that such measures only help to erode the needed trust to keep advancing negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur.

The European Union remains fully committed to reach a free trade agreement with Mercosur said Geoffrey Barrett head of the EU delegation in Uruguay and Paraguay, during a EU sponsored conference in Asunción.

French Agriculture minister Bruno Le Maire reiterated Paris ‘strong rejection’ of European Union trade talks with Mercosur and said that Europe “is no dumping ground for Mercosur agriculture produce”.

EU trade chief Karel De Gucht said on Tuesday in Brazil that a EU-Mercosur trade pact could happen “in less than a year”, despite France's “firm” opposition to a deal with the South American block.