EU Pursues Trade Agreements With South American Countries
The European Union had hoped to negotiate a free-trade agreement with a bloc of four Andean countries.
Instead, the EU is planning to negotiate individual free-trade agreements with three South American countries and worry about the fourth later.
Multi-party talks got off the groundFeb. 9 in Bogotaacute;, Colombia, for free-trade agreements with Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, while Bolivia is not included.
Officials envision four rounds of negotiations before the pacts are signed as early as September.
The second round is scheduled to take place in Lima, Peru, in March. The third round will be held in Brussels, Belgium, in May, and the fourth is expected to take place in June at a yet-to-be determined site.
Talks will cover market access, services, intellectual property, investment and government procurement. —Deborah Belgum
