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. Central American negotiators meet before heading to BrusselsTuesday, November 18, 2008 The technical teams will meet in Guatemala next week to come up with a consensus for the proposal that they will take to the sixth round of negotiations. The main negotiators and the technical teams will meet from November 24 to 28 to try to establish their main positions for the sixth round of negotiations, which will be held in Brussels, Belgium, from December 8 to 12. EU Suspends Meeting with Central AmericaWednesday, July 1, 2009 EU countries have decided to temporarily suspend negotiations to reach an association agreement with Central America. Sources state that “The idea is to continue as soon as possible. All the other Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua) have been informed and they have agreed. EU Resumes C.A. Negotiation Without HondurasTuesday, August 4, 2009 Negotiations for the association agreement would be resumed in September without Honduras, who could rejoin later if it resolves its political situation. This was announced by Spain Vice President María Teresa Fernández. Central America begins consultations to better offer to EUMonday, October 27, 2008 Central America is preparing its next commercial offer that should be presented in Brussels (Belgium) in January. The region should restart a series of consultations with the productive sectors, but this time it should include those that have been in the so called F basket, which is for those products that need special treatment or which are simple excluded from the negotiations. Central America to have talks with Europe on subsidiesMonday, April 28, 2008 Central American trade and economy ministers will meet with the European trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, on May 15 in Peru, for talks on progress toward a trade association. One of the main items on the agenda will be the subsidies that Europe grants to its farmers. Central America rejects conditions for trade alliance with EuropeFriday, May 16, 2008 Central America rejected the European Union's request to phase out 90 percent of its tariffs in exchange for the benefits of the EU's enhanced Generalised System of Preferences (GSP-plus). At a meeting with Peter Mandelson, the EU's trade commissioner, Central American representatives insisted that GSP-plus should be offered unconditionally as the basis for negotiations on an association agreement between the two regions. Europe Does Not Require Customs InterconnectionWednesday, July 20, 2011 The Association Agreement between the region and the EU will start without having completed the process of a customs union, and without having created a common tariff. This is what officials declared at the European Union Trade Commission, "there are marked differences between the Central American nations that can not be dissolved by sheer force, because they have come about by historic events." EU Agreement to Include Honduras and PanamaFriday, January 22, 2010 Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU's Trade commissar, said she is pleased with the inclusion of Panama in the agreement. The involved parties hope to sign the Agreement on May 18th, in Madrid, Spain. Regional Technical Agreements Indispensable for EUFriday, February 26, 2010 During the negotiations, the European Union requested Central America unified regulations in sanitary, technical and plant health issues. This was one of the most debated topics of today’s negotiation, commented Roberto Echandi, Costa Rica’s chief negotiator. Final Proofreading of Agreement with EUTuesday, August 24, 2010 Central America is beginning the process of reviewing the final text of the agreement signed with the European Union last May. The Trade Policy director of El Salvador's Economy Ministry, Carlos Moreno, commented that, "working groups will meet to discuss access, rules of origin and legal details in order to be able to start the process of reaching a final document for the Association Agreement with the EU," reports Prensalibre.com. VI Round of Negoations with EU endsFriday, January 30, 2009 The negotiations ended with important progress, although key issues such as banana continue to be stuck. La Tribuna reports on its website: "In general there has been progress in the negotiations. However, a lot is being negotiated. There is progress, however, negotiations on issues such as banana have not been completed," the Guatemalan vice minister of Foreign Trade, Ruben Morales, at a press conference held at the end of five days of negotiations." Central America to make new offer to the EUMonday, December 1, 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. Free Zones create discord with EuropeMonday, December 8, 2008 The European Union does not accept the proposal for special regimes within the framework of negotiations with the Isthmus. The regional proposal which includes the export of production under special regimes, including free zones, has become a new impasse in negotiations between the EU and CA. Trade will be the main topic at the V Round of negotiations with EUTuesday, September 30, 2008 The V Round of negotiations between Central America and the EU, will be held in the Guatemalan capital from October 6-10 and the main topic will be trade, an official source reported yesterday. The vice minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, Alfredo Trinidad, said that "even though they did not complete 90% of the trade proposal, they managed to finish 85% as was requested by the EU and this gives us enough room for negotiations." |
|