Central America awaits new offer from EuropeThursday, July 3, 2008 The Central American negotiating team, which met in El Salvador this week, repeated that it will not change its position at least until Europe changes its offer. Rubén Morales, Vice-minister of the Economy for Guatemala, didn't discount the possibility that the pot would be sweetened on both sides of the table, but he said Central America will not make more concessions until Europe does the same. EU trade agreement could be delayedWednesday, July 23, 2008 Negotiations with the European Union on an Association Agreement might be delayed longer than expected. It might take until the end of 2009, and the accord might not go into effect until 2014. Enrique Lacs, former economic minister of the economy for Guatemala and former negotiator of the trade agreements made between Guatemala and the United States and Mexico, says he thinks the negotiations will take more time while aspects of policies, cooperation and market access are hammered out. EU to Buy Up to 60 Tons of SugarWednesday, March 18, 2009 Europe would admit up to 60,000 tons of Central American sugar, 5% of the deficit in its annual consumption. In the last round of negotiations of the Association Agreement between Central America and Europe, it was agreed to open the market at 35,000 tons, but the Europeans have given in more in recent mini-rounds, according to an article in La Prensa Grafica of El Salvador: "According to negotiation sources, they have given in a little bit more during the mini-rounds. In the last round, the proposal went up 60,000 tons. Negotiation Without Honduras to be Decided by EUMonday, August 31, 2009 The European Union will study tomorrow if they resume trade negotiations with Central America without Honduras. The topic will be analyzed in the Latin America Committee of the European Council (COLAT). EU Maintains Honduras in AgreementWednesday, September 2, 2009 The European Commission "doesn't want to leave Honduras isolated" in the Association Agreement negotiations. The measure fostered by Spain for leaving Honduras out of the negotiations has not been backed by other countries in the EU. C.A. Considering EU Negotiation Without HondurasMonday, July 13, 2009 Looking to not delay the final process of the negotiation, the region will analyze if they continue without the participation of Honduras. The Guatemalan chancellor, Haroldo Rodas, spoke about the subject: "In the future, when its crisis is resolved, Honduras could rejoin". Nicaragua Abandons Negotiations with EuropeWednesday, April 1, 2009 The cause was the rejection of the Nicaraguan demand for 60 billion Euros in cooperation for the region by European negotiators. While the news has not been officially confirmed, the Nicaraguan negotiators have already withdrawn from the Intercontinental Hotel, the venue of the talks. How the process will continue is also not known since Europe has insisted from the outset on the need to negotiate as a bloc. European Union hints at sweet deal on tradeFriday, April 18, 2008 The European Union might be willing to apply trade concessions to Central America under the enhanced Generalized System of Preferences (GSP-Plus), giving the region the equivalent of most-favored nation status. The possibility arose during talks between the two blocs. Rupert Schlegelmilch, the EU's chief trade negotiator, told reporters that he well understood Central America's wish to apply GSP-Plus, which is designed for the world's most vulnerable nations. GSP+ Two Year ExtensionMonday, November 7, 2011 The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP +) will extend for a further two years from 2012, until the Association Agreement with the EU becomes active. The director of trade policy at the El Salvadoran Ministry of Economy, Carlos Moreno, said that once the country’s Assembly has ratified the Association Agreement with the EU, the GSP + will lose its scope. Export Quotas in the European AgreementMonday, August 6, 2012 A computerized system is being prepared in order to control the volume of exports to Europe by each Central American country, within the provisions of the Partnership Agreement. An article in Laprensagráfica.com reports that "Central America is working on the adoption of a computerized system which will keep track of the volumes of cargo that each country in the region exports to Europe under the quotas that were agreed in the Agreement Association (AA). " Europe and Central American to hold low-level negotiations in HondurasFriday, February 6, 2009 Central America and the EU will hold a round of negotiations in March to "expedite and energize" the agreement of association. Nicolas Bulte, EU chief for economic policy and the press for Central America, in an article by proceso.hn "...explained that in this round, which will be held by request of Central America, both blocks will jointly define which of the 12 subtopics have had the slowest progress up to now." EU and CA Close Telecommunications ChapterWednesday, April 21, 2010 Negotiators from both blocks announced they have reached an agreement on all items related to Telecommunications. The announcement was made by Rubén Morales, Guatemalan Economy Minister. He added that this chapter introduces safeguards for companies to participate in the Central American telecom market. Ministers from Central America to evaluate negotiations with the EUFriday, September 5, 2008 Foreign Ministers from Costa Rica, El Salvador and Honduras will participate in a meeting next week in Madrid to evaluate the state of negotiations between Central America and the European Union. The meeting is organized by the European Network for Cooperation and Development (RECYD) under the theme "Towards a Political and Economic Association" and will be inaugurated on September 9 by the Spanish Foreign minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, according to a release today from the SEGIB EU Would Approve Including Panama In C.A. NegotiationsWednesday, March 3, 2010 The European Union would announce its formal incorporation into the negotiations tomorrow. As a requisite for being included in the project, Panama has accepted all the items already negotiated and closed. Panama Enters EU NegotiationThursday, March 4, 2010 The European Union formally accepted the inclusion of Panama in the negotiations for an Association Agreement with Central America. This way, EU recognizes Panama as part of the Central American block, despite the fact that it is not a member of the Central American Economic Integration Secretary (SIECA). |
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