EU trade agreement with Peru goes live –
Colombia’s next in line
Trade barriers between the EU and Peru will
be lifted as of 1 March 2013, when the EU's ambitious and comprehensive trade
agreement concluded with Peru and Colombia in 2012 will be provisionally
applied with Peru. The Agreement will open up markets for both EU and Peruvian
exporters eventually bringing annual savings of more than €500m. But it is the
improved, more stable conditions for trade and investment that are expected to
bring the biggest gains.
'This
agreement is an important step towards strengthening our trade and investment
relations with the two countries. I welcome the provisional application of the
agreement with Peru, and hope we will be able to announce the same with
Colombia as soon as possible,' stated EU Trade
Commissioner Karel De Gucht. 'In times of
economic crisis, with limited internal demand and tight budgets, trade can help
boost growth and jobs without causing further strain on the public purse. This
agreement does just that and will really foster sustainable, high-quality
business and investment on both sides,' said the Commissioner.
Colombia, which also signed the Trade
Agreement with the EU in June 2012, is expected to join the implementation
phase later this year, once its internal ratification procedures will be
completed.
Background
The agreement will substantially improve
market access for EU and Peruvian exporters.
In the long run, exporters of industrial and fisheries products will no
longer have to pay customs duties and markets for agricultural products will be
opened up considerably. At the end of
the transition period, exporters will be saving more than €500 million annually
in tariffs alone.
The main benefit of the new regime, however,
will be the improved trading and investment conditions established by the
agreement, providing for a stable, transparent, predictable and enforceable
business environment. This is expected to create significant new opportunities
for businesses and consumers on both sides.
The deal includes far-reaching provisions on
the protection of human rights and the rule of law, as well as commitments to effectively
implement international conventions on labour rights and environmental
protection. Civil society organisations will be systematically involved in the
work to monitor the implementation of these commitments.
The agreement also aims at fostering regional
integration among the Andean countries.
It keeps alive the hope on all sides for an association between the two
regions by leaving the door open for the other Andean countries – Ecuador and
Bolivia – to enter into the partnership.
Peru concluded its ratification procedures on
8 February, whereas the EU's internal procedures required for this provisional
application had been completed on 25 February. The European Parliament had given
its consent in December 2012 (IP/12/1353). When all 27 EU Member States will
have ratified the agreement, it can fully enter into force. However,
provisional application means that businesses will be able to benefit from all
of the agreed trade preferences set out in the agreement as of 1 March 2013.
EU-Peru trade relations
The EU is Peru's third largest source of
imports (mainly machinery and transport equipment) and the main destination for
its exports (mainly fuels and mining products).
The trade agreement represents an important opportunity for Peruvian
agricultural and fisheries exports, which already represent almost a third of
all the country's exports to the EU.
EU-Peru trade has grown significantly in recent years and its volume
reached €9.2 billion in 2011, corresponding to 16% of Peru’s trade volume. The EU remains the largest investor in Peru
(more than 50% of total FDI), concentrating mainly in communications,
extractive industries and banking and finance.
.bmp)
