“Europe has always been an active continent on the trade front, but it currently faces a world where trade barriers are increasing. The new partnership between the European Union and Mercosur represents an opportunity to reverse this trend.” Thus European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in an op-ed in Il Sole 24 Ore. “The agreement we have now reached includes the strongest forms of protection ever included in a trade agreement. It protects our most essential economic sectors, including agriculture and food. It protects our consumers by enforcing strong standards and prioritizes the protection of our planet and its green lungs. Today we can say with confidence that this is a better deal for European citizens,” he adds. According to von der Leyen, “this new partnership comes at a crucial time for Europe. The European Union and Mercosur will create a market of 700 million people. This market will bring immediate benefits first and foremost to the tens of thousands of European companies that already trade with Latin America. The agreement will eliminate almost all tariffs on all products, which will save EU exporters up to 4 billion a year. And it will open this dynamic market to European exporters. It is also the most comprehensive agreement ever negotiated to protect European food and beverages. For example, ‘Parmesan-type cheeses’ will no longer be sold in Mercosur supermarkets, only the original made in Italy.” The president then assures that “the European Commission will closely monitor market developments following the implementation of the agreement, especially in the agricultural sector,” and “the agreement is also good news for European industries that depend on raw materials from abroad.” But “this new agreement is also a geopolitical necessity. Trade partnerships are a way to build and strengthen communities of shared values. That is why today is a good day for Europe and Mercosur. A generation of leaders has dedicated years to achieving an agreement on the best terms for Europe. Now is the time for future generations to benefit from it. This is how we act to achieve our common goal of strengthening Europe’s competitiveness,” von der Leyen concluded.
(ITALPRESS).
-Photo: Photogram Agency-
von der Leyen “Agreement with Mercosur important for EU competitiveness”
