Third country relationships with the European Union

U.S., UK want financial services as part of trade pact

Thomson Reuters — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:45:03 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Doug Palmer and Douwe Miedema

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and the UK aim to include financial services in a proposed free-trade agreement between Washington and the 27-nation European Union, the British ambassador to the United States said on Thursday.

The accord would aim to smooth out regulatory differences that have stunted U.S.-EU trade in areas such as agriculture, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and autos. The EU is already the largest U.S. trading partner.

France threatens to block start of EU/U.S. free trade talks

Thomson Reuters — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:16:30 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Philip Blenkinsop

DUBLIN (Reuters) - France said on Thursday it would block proposed negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States unless cultural sectors, such as television and radio, were excluded from the talks.

Trade ministers held an unprecedented informal meeting in Dublin on Thursday on the negotiations, which the Commission and most member states want to launch by the end of June. The talks are likely to last two years.

France wants audiovisual excluded from EU-US free trade talks

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:01:53 +0000

Agence France-Presse

France will not support the opening of EU-US free trade talks if audiovisual content is not excluded from the negotiations, French trade minister Nicole Bricq warned Thursday.

The European Union and United States intend to begin within months talks on an ambitious transatlantic free trade deal that would create the world's largest free trade area, boosting economic growth and jobs.

Key EU-India trade talks kick off with new momentum

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:30:40 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Long-running talks on an EU Free Trade Agreement with India gained fresh momentum in a meeting Monday with Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, the European Commission said.

EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht and Sharma "had a positive meeting which has provided a renewed momentum to bring the negotiations forward.

"We look forward to renewed progress in the coming months", said John Clancy, spokesman for the commissioner.

Indian officials were not immediately available for comment.

France threatens to delay quick start of EU-U.S. trade talks

Thomson Reuters — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:31:25 +0000

Thomson Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) - France threatened on Monday to delay the swift start of EU-U.S. trade talks if its red lines on culture and farm produce are not respected.

Brussels and Washington hope to start negotiations in June on a transatlantic free-trade agreement that would encompass almost half the world's economy, and are seeking as broad a deal as possible to deliver strong economic growth.

Japan, EU to launch free trade talks next week

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:16:14 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Japan and the European Union will hold a summit next week at which they are expected to formally launch negotiations on a huge free trade deal, officials said on Friday.

EU President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso will visit Tokyo for a one-day summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday, foreign ministry officials said.

The two sides are expected to reach a final accord that will see the launch of long-awaited negotiations aiming to liberalise trade and remove barriers on services and investment, the officials said.

White House gives Congress 90-day notice on EU trade talks

Thomson Reuters — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:15:52 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Wednesday formally notified Congress of its plans to begin free trade talks with the 27-nation European Union, an effort to leverage the world's largest trade and investment relationship to create new economic growth.

EU wants to include financial services in U.S. trade talks

Thomson Reuters — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:15:37 +0000

Thomson Reuters

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's top trade official said on Saturday he wants financial services to be included in negotiations on an ambitious EU-U.S. free trade pact.

The United States and the 27-nation EU agreed last month to launch negotiations on a wide-ranging Transatlantic free trade agreement, but details of what the talks will cover have been limited.

The EU's executive Commission approved a proposed European negotiating mandate last Tuesday but kept its contents secret.

EU starts push for new trade pacts with North Africa

Thomson Reuters — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:45:38 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Ethan Bilby

BRUSSELS, March 1 (Reuters) - The European Union began talks with Morocco on a free-trade deal on Friday, the EU's first in a planned series aimed at deepening trade ties with North African nations two years after a wave of Arab uprisings.

"Just announced the launch of negotiations for a free-trade agreement with Morocco," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on his Twitter feed from Rabat.

India hopes to seal EU free trade deal by April

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:02:46 +0000

Agence France-Presse

India expects to sign a "balanced and ambitious" free trade agreement with the European Union by April, an official statement said on Thursday.

Chief negotiators for India and its largest trading partner will meet next month, capping a series of 15 rounds of talks, India's Trade Minister Anand Sharma said in a statement released by his ministry.

"Loose ends, if any, will be dealt with at the ministerial level in April," Sharma said, adding "both sides expect to be able to close negotiations by April 2013".

UPDATE 2-Obama calls for U.S. free trade pact with European Union

Thomson Reuters — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 23:49:16 +0000

Thomson Reuters

* US-EU trade talks expected to begin by June

* Lawmakers press for action on EU farm trade barriers

* Congress to work on new "trade promotion authority" law

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday called for talks on a far-reaching free trade agreement with the 27 nations of the European Union, throwing his weight behind a deal that would encompass half the world's economic output.

Canada, EU free trade talks fail to break deadlock

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:16:22 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Two days of face-to-face meetings between Canada's trade minister and his EU counterpart, ending late Thursday, failed to break a deadlock on the last stumbling blocks to reaching a free trade pact.

"Progress was made in several of the areas that remain outstanding. However, further important work remains to be done, and the process of negotiations is continuing," a spokesman for Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast said Friday.

Canada, EU free trade talks fail to break deadlock

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:16:19 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Two days of face-to-face meetings between Canada's trade minister and his EU counterpart, ending late Thursday, failed to break a deadlock on the last stumbling blocks to reaching a free trade pact.

UPDATE 1-Canada, EU fail to settle differences over free trade pact

Thomson Reuters — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 19:30:41 +0000

Thomson Reuters

(Adds details, background)

By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Canada and the European Union failed to settle their differences on a proposed free trade deal this week at top-level talks to hammer out an agreement that is already well behind schedule.

Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht spent Wednesday and Thursday in Ottawa discussing contentious issues including agricultural exports, intellectual property and public procurement.

Talks fail to break deadlock on Canada, EU free trade

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:46:42 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Two days of face-to-face meetings between Canada's trade minister and his EU counterpart, ending late Thursday, failed to break a deadlock on the last stumbling blocks to reaching a free trade pact.