EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson in Latin America, 27-31 March 2006

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson arrives in Santiago, Chile today on the first day of a six day visit to Latin America. The Commissioner will visit Chile, Brazil and Argentina. In Chile he will meet Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. In Argentina, the Commissioner will meet with senior Government officials and participate in a round-table with Argentinean businessmen on the EU-Mercosur FTA negotiations. The Commissioner concludes his visit with meetings in Brazil to discuss bilateral issues and the Doha WTO talks. He will hold talks with Brazilian Trade Minister Celso Amorim and visit a bioethanol plant in Ribeirao de Preto. Commissioner Mandelson will use the visit to highlight the vibrant bilateral commercial relations between Europe and Latin America. He will stress the mutual interest of the two regions in a successful Doha Round. He will also reinforce the European Union's commitment to a successful EU-Mercosur FTA negotiation.

Growing economic strength, and a growing relationship with the EU...

Latin America combines growing economic strength and confidence with the profound challenges of poverty and development. As an export market and a source of investment the European Union is a key partner for the region. The European Union has a successful FTA with Chile, and strong bilateral trading links with all of the countries of Latin America. Brazil, for example, has doubled its agricultural exports to the EU over the last decade. The EU is the largest export market for Chile, and its largest source of imports after neighbouring Argentina. Brazil, Chile and Argentina are all members of the G20 group of emerging economies.

Latin America can be a big winner in the Doha round...

Latin America includes some of the world's most competitive agricultural exporters. It stands to benefit from the new market access and the subsidy reductions and export subsidy eliminations offered by the European Union as part of the Doha WTO negotiations. The EU has asked in return for new access for European investment and industrial exports to the markets of developed countries and the emerging economies of the G20, which includes the countries of Latin America. The EU is offering to do more than others. But as President Lula of Brazil said in London three weeks ago, a successful Doha Round means that both developed countries and advanced developing countries should be ready to make a contribution.

Mercosur: the world's first region-to-region free trade agreement...

Although the Doha Development agenda WTO negotiations are a priority for the EU, it remains committed to a successful FTA negotiation with Mercosur. An EU-Mercosur FTA would be the world's first region-to-region free trade agreement. By encouraging and building on regional integration among the Mercosur countries themselves it would create new economies of scale and a wide new market to attract investment.
To follow Commissioner Mandelson's visit or for more information on the EU-Latin America relationship visit:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/

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• EU-Andean Community Ministerial Meeting: Joint Communiqué (19/4/2007)
• EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Chile, 4-8 November 2006  (31/10/2006)
• Remarks by Commissioner Mandelson at the launch of the CEFTA expansion negotiations (6/4/2006)
• European Commissioners Mandelson and Rehn to launch South East Europe trade liberalisation talks  (5/4/2006)
• EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson's address to the 5th EUROMED Trade Ministerial Conference (24/3/2006)
• Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean - working together for greater social solidarity (24/3/2006)
• Speech by EU Trade Commissioner Mandelson: "Sustainable Trade: observations on trade and protectionism" (21/3/2006)
• EU General Affairs Council Conclusions on EU-Latin America Relations (27/2/2006)
• Speech by EU Commissioner Mandelson: EU Agriculture and the World Trade Talks (27/2/2006)