Association Agreement between Europe and Central America International Commerce Rúben Morales Exports & imports Agriculture Association of producers and exporters of Nicaragua Central America Business Committee Central America Integration Federación Centroamericana de Cámaras Agropecuarias y Agroindustriales Generalized System of Preferences (GSP Plus) Héctor Dada Hirezi José Manuel Durao Barroso Nicaraguan Chamber of Commerce Roberto Echandi food shortages

CE – EU Round Concludes Without Agreement

Both blocks closed 10 days of intense negotiations without closing their Association Agreement.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Talks will continue at “the highest level”, as the parties hope to agree on the final issues in May.

Rubén Morales, Guatemalan economy ministry, told Sigloxxi.com that “the Europeans announced the end of the VIII round because they needed time to analyze Central America’s last proposal on sugar, banana, rice and meat”.

The EU is expected to respond to CA’s proposal on Tuesday.

Source: sigloxxi.com

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Key entities

José Manuel Durao Barroso Rúben Morales

Countries

Central America European Union

Insight

Association Agreement between Europe and Central America International Commerce

Slight Progress in EU Negotiation

April 2010

Rubén Morales, Guatemalan Economy Minister, said there was some progress in the market access topic, but refused to give details.

The head of the Costa Rican delegation, Roberto Echandi, also reported advances in rules of origin.

“The EU has been more receptive”, he said, adding they closed two chapters on commercial defense and some aspects related to sanitary and phitosanitary measures.

Central America Projects Last Round with EU for July

April 2009

The countries of the isthmus have proposed finalizing the technical aspects of the agreement during this last round.

The current spokesperson for the countries of the region, Deputy Foreign Minister of Honduras, Patricia Licona, informed EFE that "mini rounds" will be held to address pending issues in the trade chapter.

EU Hopes Nicaragua Will Reconsider Its Position

April 2009

The European Commission regretted Nicaragua's withdrawal during the seventh round of negotiations for the Association Agreement and announced that it will evaluate the situation.

The VII round of negotiations for the Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America should have concluded this coming Friday and it was estimated that it was possible to have a final signature on the Agreement in the first half of 2010.

Central America to make new offer to the EU

December 2008

The countries of Central America already made an offer of 90% of the tariff items that they will allow the European Union.

According to the Guatemalan vice minister of Foreign Trade, Ruben Morales, the negotiating teams from the region agreed to the 90% of the items as required by the EU at a private meeting that was held for one week in Guatemala.