Thursday, November 14, 2013

Mexico, EU look to expand trade ties

Thursday, 14 November 2013 00:10
THE NEWS


Mexico is seeking to expand its range of agricultural products and increase trade with the European Union, Raúl Urteaga Trani, international affairs coordinator for the Food Production Secretariat (Sagarpa), said on Wednesday.

According to Urteaga Trani, there is interest within both Mexico and the European Union for increasing bilateral trade and cooperation on agricultural issues.

In 2000, Mexico signed a free trade agreement with the European Union, which Urteaga Trani says must now be modernized to expand trade possibilities and make it easier to exchange agricultural products. He added that work will also begin soon on certifying sanitary standards on farms and slaughterhouses in both Mexico and the European Union to guarantee the health and safety of food products.

Anna Jonsson, representative of the European Commission’s Economic and Financial Affairs section, said that Europe is interested in developing the economic potential represented by trade with Mexico and increasing commercial flows, recognizing the growth in demand for Mexican food products in the European market. Jonsson said that there is interest in carrying out scientific and technological exchanges with Mexico, as well as inviting Mexican researchers to study in European Union countries.

According to the Economy Secretariat (SE), Mexico’s agricultural exports to the European Union between January and June 2013 added up to $609 million.

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