S&D MEPs welcome the consensus reached this week between Commissioner for trade, Phil Hogan, and the Mexican minister for economy, Graciela Márquez Colín, regarding the new trade agreement between the two partners.
While we will carefully assess the final text, we can say this will be, by far, one of the most progressive trade agreements that will be ratified by the European Union, with provisions that aim at maintaining the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as simpler customs procedures, respect for human rights and fighting corruption, with measures to counteract bribery and money laundering.
This consensus marks the end of political negotiations on trade aspects. Once the legal revision of the agreement is finalised, the EU Council and the European Parliament will sign it, and it will enter into force.
Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero, member of the European Parliament’s trade committee, said:
“This is the first time that a trade agreement incorporates provisions dedicated to the fight against corruption, and to combat bribery and money laundering. In addition, the pact delves into what the goods and services that we exchange should be like - it is not just about what they are, but also under what conditions. For this reason, it is the most advanced of all the agreements negotiated so far.
“In a chapter on sustainable development, the agreement includes the commitment of both parties to apply the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Therefore, I appreciate the efforts of both the Mexican authorities and the European Commission for having continued with these negotiations during these times of pandemic and in the midst of a serious crisis to achieve an agreement based on fair trade.”
Massimiliano Smeriglio, chair of the EU-Mexico joint parliamentary committee, stated:
“This is an historic achievement for relations between Europe and Latin America in general, especially with regard to investment protection, with Mexico being the EU's first trading partner in the region.
“From the broader point of view of the global agreement, I am pleased with the immense progress achieved on issues such as the protection of human rights and both political and development collaboration - issues of particular importance at a time like this in which we have to rely even more on multilateralism and on cooperation between peoples. I look forward to the formal completion of the agreement in order to celebrate this important result together.”
Note to editors:
S&D Group president, Iratxe García, addressed the importance of the EU-Mexico Global Agreement with Graciela Márquez Colín during a mission to Mexico at the end of February. She also met with other ministers and representatives of civil society with whom she could discuss the need to reinforce multilateralism and how the modernised agreement can help the Mexican government's efforts to improve human rights, fight corruption, promote socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. More info here.
