OAS

 
Mexico-European Union
Text of the agreement
  Background and Negotiations
   

On 13 May 1996 the European Union General Council approved a mandate to negotiate an agreement with Mexico. Negotiations began in October 1996. On 8 December 1997 the European Union and Mexico signed an agreement made up of three pillars: an Economic Partnership, Political Cooperation and Cooperation Agreement (known as the "Global Agreement") which laid the basis for the negotiation of a free trade agreement between Mexico and the European Union; an interim agreement on trade and trade-related matters (known as the "interim agreement"), which provided the framework and mechanisms for trade liberalization and a Final Act.

The Interim Agreement, which was to be in force until the entry into force of the Global Agreement, was approved by the Mexican Senate on 23 April 1998. The goods section of this agreement was approved by the European Parliament on 13 May 1998 and Parties exchanged instruments of ratification on 30 June 1998, allowing the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters to enter into force on 01 July 1998.

On 14 July 1998 a Joint Committee of the Interim Agreement was created and negotiations towards a free trade agreement were initiated. From November 1998 to November 1999 nine rounds of negotiation were held. Negotiations towards the Mexico-EU free trade agreement concluded on 24 November 1999.

Documents relating to the negotiations
28 September 2000 Council Decision concerning the conclusion of the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part PDF
24 November 1999 Conclusion of Mexico-EU free trade agreement negotiationsPDF
  Second round of Mexico-EU FTA negotiations Spanish PDF
09 November 1998 Opening of Free Trade Negotiations between EU and MexicoPDF
13 August 1998 Information on the entry into force of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part PDF
08 December 1997 Interim Agreement PDF
08 December 1997 Final Act PDF
28 October 1997 Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part (Global Agreement) PDF
08 December 1997 Signing of Mexico-EU Agreement Spanish PDF
13 May 1996 EU Council approves proposal on negotiations with MexicoPDF
Source: Council of the European Union; European Union

  Entry into Force
   

The Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement (the Global Agreement), which set forth the objectives and mechanisms for trade liberalization in goods and services, was approved by the Mexican Senate on 20 March 2000 and by the European Parliament on 6 May 1999.The goods portion of the Free Trade Agreement, established by Decision 2/2000 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council, entered into force on 1 July 2000.

The Agreement was adopted by the EU Council on 28 September 2000 after the notification by the contracting parties of the completion of the procedures necessary for the entry into force of the agreement and entered into force on 01 October 2000.

Liberalization of services and investment as well as cooperation in the intellectual property domain was established by Decision 2/2001 of EU-Mexico Joint Council, which entered into force on 1 March 2001.

Documents relating to entry into force

01 October 2000 Information concerning the date of entry into force of the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other partPDF
29 June 2000 Mexico-EU FTA enters into force 01 July 2000 Spanish PDF
23 March 2000 Lisbon Declaration: New Partnership between Mexico and the European Union PDF
Source:  Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom; European Union; Secretaría de Economía

 

Implementation of the Agreement

   

Article 45 of Title VII of the Economic Partnership, Political Cooperation and Cooperation Agreement (Global Agreement) established a Joint Council to supervise the implementation of the Agreement. The Council is to meet regularly at the Ministerial level. The Council is mandated to examine major issues arising within the framework of the Agreement as well as other bilateral or international issues. Article 48 of Title VII of the Global Agreement establishes a Joint Committee to assist the Joint Council in the performance of its duties. The Joint Committee is to meet once a year and to be composed of representatives of the members of the European Union and of representatives of the Government of Mexico at the senior level.

The Trade Aspects of the Global Agreement were adopted by Decisions 2/2000, which establishes a free trade area in goods and 2/2001, which establishes a free trade area in services, of the EU-Mexico Joint Council.

Additionally, EC Council Decision of 31 January 2005 provides for an additional protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement to take into account the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union.

The Mexico-EU Free Trade Agreement provides for a Joint Committee. Title IV of the Global Agreement sets out specific duties of the Joint Committee with respect to Trade and other Trade-related matters.

The EU-Mexico Joint Council had its first meeting on 27 February 2001. At this meeting, the Joint Council adopted the results of the negotiations in relation to trade in services, capital movements and related payments, and intellectual property, to come into effect on 1 March 2001. The meeting also determined, through Decision Nº.02/2000 and the document on information concerning Decision Nº. 02/2000, that title III on government procurement would enter into force on 27 February 2001.The Council has issued various additional decisions relating to the implementation of the Agreement. The last meeting of the EU-Mexico Joint Council was held in Prague, Czech Republic on May 2009.

Documents relating to meetings of the EU-Mexico Joint Council

14 May 2009 Prague, Czech Republic. Eu-Mexico Joint Council - 6th SessionPDF
19 April 2007 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. EU-Mexico Joint Council - 5th SessionPDF
26 May 2005 Luxembourg. EU-Mexico Joint Council - 4th SessionPDF
27 May 2003 Athens, Greece. EU-Mexico Joint Council - 3rd SessionPDF
13 May 2002 Brussels, Belgium. EU-Mexico Joint Council - 2nd SessionPDF
27 February 2001 Brussels, Belgium. EU-Mexico Joint Council - 1st sessionPDF
Source:  European Union
 

Decisions of the EU-Mexico Joint Council

15 December 2008 Decision Nº 3/2008 of the European Union-Mexico Joint Council amending Joint Council Decision Nº 2/2001, as amended by Joint Council Decision Nº 4/2004 PDF
25 July 2008 Decision Nº 2/2008 of the European Union-Mexico Joint Council of 25 July 2008 amending Joint Council Decision Nº 2/2000, as amended by Joint Council Decision Nº 3/2004 PDF
15 January 2008 Decision Nº 1/2008 of the European Union-Mexico Joint Council of 15 January 2008 implementing Article 9 of Joint Council Decision Nº 2/2001 of 27 February 2001 PDF
12 March 2005 Notice of the date of entry into force of Decision Nº 1/2005 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council, concerning a corrigendum to Decision Nº 3/2004 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council of 29 July 2004 PDF
21 February 2005 Decision Nº 1/2005 of the European Union-Mexico Joint Council of 21 February 2005 introducing a corrigendum in Decision Nº 3/2004 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council PDF
15 December 2004 Decision Nº 5/2004 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council of 15 December 2004 adopting, pursuant to Article 17(3) of Decision Nº 2/2000, an Annex to the said Decision on mutual administrative assistance in customs mattersPDF
22 July 2005 Notice of the date of entry into force (18 May 2005) of Decision Nº 4/2004 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council, amending Joint Council Decision Nº 2/2001 PDF
18 May 2005 Decision Nº 4/2004 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council of 18 May 2005 amending Joint Council Decision Nº 2/2001 PDF
29 July 2004 Decision Nº 3/2004 the EC-Mexico Joint Council of 29 July 2004 amending Joint Council Decision Nº 2/2000 of 23 March 2000PDF
28 April 2004 Decision Nº 2/2004 of the EC-Mexico Joint Council of 28 April 2004 introducing a preferential tariff rate quota for certain products originating in Mexico and listed in Annex I to Decision Nº 2/2000 of the EC-Mexico Joint CouncilPDF
29 March 2004 Decision Nº 1/2004 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council of 29 March 2004 accelerating the elimination of customs duties of certain products listed in Annex II of Decision Nº 2/2000 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council PDF
06 November 2003 Decision Nº 4/2002 of the EC-Mexico Joint Council of 6 November 2003 adopting rules of procedure of the EC-Mexico special committeesPDF
24 December 2002 Decision Nº 5/2002 of the European Union-Mexico Joint Council of 24 December 2002 relating to Annex III to Decision Nº 2/2000 of the European Union-Mexico Joint Council of 23 March 2000, concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperationPDF
13 May 2002 Decision Nº 3/2002 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council of 13 May 2002 relating to the tariff treatment of certain products listed in Annexes I and II to Decision Nº 2/2000 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council PDF
13 May 2002 Decision Nº 2/2002 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council of 13 May 2002 relating to the accelerated elimination of customs duties of certain products listed in Annexes I and II to Decision Nº 2/2000 of the EU-Mexico Joint CouncilPDF
27 February 2001 Information concerning the entry into force of Title III "Government procurement" of Decision Nº 2/2000 of the EC-Mexico Joint Council of 23 March 2000 (hereinafter referred to as "the Decision") PDF
27 February 2001 Decision Nº 2/2001 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council of 27 February 2001 implementing Articles 6, 9, 12(2)(b) and 50 of the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement PDF
27 February 2001 Decision Nº 1/2001 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council of 27 February 2001 establishing the Rules of Procedure of the EU-Mexico Joint Council and the Rules of Procedure of the EU-Mexico Joint Committee PDF
23 March 2000 Decision Nº 2/2000 of the EC-Mexico Joint Council of 23 March 2000 PDF
  Annexes (OJ L 145, 29.9.2000, p. 1.)PDF
  Joint Declarations I-XI (OJ L 145, 29.9.2000 , p. 1166)PDF
  Joint Declarations XII-XVPDF
  Explanatory notes concerning Annex III of the EC-Mexico Agreement (Decision 2/2000 of the EC-Mexico Joint Council) PDF
23 March 2000 Decision Nº 1/2000 of the EC-Mexico Joint Council of 23 March 2000 established by the Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, of 8 December 1997 adopting its rules of procedure PDF
Source:  European Union

The EU-Mexico Joint Committee had its first meeting in October 2001. Since then, it has met eight times. The last meeting was held in Mexico City in October 2008.

Documents relating to meetings of the EU-Mexico Joint Committee

13-14 October 2008 Mexico City, Mexico. Eighth meeting of the EU-Mexico Joint CommitteePDF  
26-27 November 2007 Brussels, Belgium. Seventh meeting of the EU-Mexico CommitteePDF
26-27 October 2005 Brussels, Belgium. Fifth meeting of the EU-Mexico Joint CommitteePDF
17 October 2005 Brussels, Belgium. Fourth meeting of the EU-Mexico Joint CommitteePDF
11 November 2003 Brussels, Belgium. Third meeting of the EU-Mexico Joint CommitteePDF
03 October 2002 Puebla, Mexico. Second meeting of the EU-Mexico Joint CommitteePDF
02 October 2001 Brussels, Belgium. First meeting of the EU-Mexico Joint CommitteePDF
Source:   European Union

Decisions of the EU-Mexico Joint Committee

17 September 2010

Decision Nº 1/2010 of the EU-Mexico Joint Committee of relating to Annex III to Decision Nº 2/2000 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council concerning the definition  of the concept of originating products and methods of administrative cooperation

14 june 2007 Decision Nº 1/2007 of the European Union-Mexico Joint Council of 14 June 2007 relating to Annex III to Decision Nº 2/2000 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council of 23 March 2000, concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation PDF
22 March 2004 Decision Nº 1/2004 relating to Annex III to Decision Nº 2/2000 of the EU-Mexico Joint Council of 23 March 2000,
concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation
PDF
20 December 2002 Decision Nº 1/2002 relating to Annex III to Decision Nº 2/2000 of the European Union-Mexico Joint Council of 23 March 2000, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperationPDF
Source: European Union

An additional protocol was added to take into account the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union.

Additional Protocols

21 February 2007 Second Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union PDF
12 March 2005 Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European Union PDF
31 January 2005

Council Decision of 31 January 2005 on the conclusion of an Additional Protocol to the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Slovak Republic to the European UnionPDF

Source: European Union

Mexico-EU Joint Declarations
12 March 2001 Joint Declaration by the European Community and Mexico on cooperation in agriculture and the rural sector (Article 21 of the Agreement) PDF
12 March 2001 Joint Declaration by the European Community and Mexico on Alternative DIspute ResolutionPDF
Source: European Union

  Modernization of the Free Trade Agreement
   

In May 2015, the Secretary of Economy of Mexico and the Commissioner for Trade of the European Commission met with the aim of advancing preparations for the modernization of the trade part of the Global Agreement between Mexico and the European Union.

On 30 May 2016, Mexico and the European Union officially launched talks to update their current free trade agreement. On 13-14 June 2016, the first round of negotiations towards the modernization of the agreement was held in Brussels, Belgium. The second round of negotiations to modernize the agreement took place in Mexico City on November 22-25, 2016.

Mexico and the EU agreed to accelerate trade talks to modernize their FTA. They will hold two additional negotiating rounds on 3-7 April and 26-29 June 2017 as part of an accelerated negotiation schedule.

On April 3, 2017 Mexico and the European Union held the third round of negotiations for the modernization of their FTA in Brussels, Belgium. On May 8, 2017, Mexico and the EU announced dates for the next three rounds of trade negotiations: June 26-30, September 25-29, and November 27-December 1st, 2017. The fourth round of negotiations began on June 26, 2017 in Mexico City. The fifth round of negotiations included 21 negotiating groups and concluded on October 2, 2017 in Brussels. The sixth round of negotiations to modernize the FTA concluded on December 5, 2017 in Mexico City.

The seventh round of negotiations took place on December 11-21, 2017 in Brussels, Belgium. During this round Mexico and EU concluded their work on competition, SMEs, transparency, SPS, good regulatory practices, and trade and sustainable development. The negotiations also covered the revised market access offers for goods, which was exchanged after the sixth round of negotiations.

The eighth round of negotiations took place in Mexico City on January 8-7, 2018. The ninth round of negotiations began in Mexico City on February 12, 2018. Mexico and the European Union concluded negotiations for a new Global Agreement on April 21, 2018. The new agreement includes political, economic and cooperation aspects to strengthen the political dialogue, boost trade and investment and increase technical and scientific cooperation among both parties.

On April 28, 2020 Mexico and the European Union concluded negotiations for the modernization of the commercial pillar of the Agreement. This was the last outstanding element of their new trade agreement.

Documents relating to modernization of the FTA

28 April 2020 Negotiations for the modernization of the commercial pillar of the Agreement between Mexico and the European Union conclude PDF
21 April 2018 Mexico and the European Union conclude negotiations for a new global agreementPDF
12 February 2018 Mexico City, Mexico. Ninth round of negotiations to modernize FTA PDF
08-17 January 2018 Mexico City, Mexico. Eighth round of negotiations to modernize FTA PDF
11-21 December 2017 Brussels, Belgium. Seventh round of negotiations to modernize FTA PDF
05 December 2017 Mexico City, Mexico. Sixth round of negotiations to modernize the Mexico-EU FTA PDF
02 October 2017 Brussels, Belgium. EU and Mexico Conclude Fifth Round of Trade Negotiations PDF

EU negotiating textual proposals (all files are in format)

26 June 2017 Mexico City, Mexico. Fourth round of negotiations In Spanish PDF
08 May 2017 Mexico Cty, Mexico. Mexico and the EU announced dates for the next three rounds of trade negotiations to modernize their FTA PDF
03-07 April 2017 Brussels, Belgium. Mexico-EU held third round of negotiations to modernize their FTA PDF
01 February 2017 Brussels, Belgium. Mexico and EU agree to accelerate trade talks to modernize agreement PDF
22-25 November 2016 Mexico City, Mexico. Second round of negotiations towards the modernization of the Mexico-EU Free Trade Agreement PDF

EU proposals in the negotiations (all files are in format):

13-14 June 2016 Brussels, Belgium. First round of negotiations towards the modernization of the Mexico-EU Free Trade Agreement PDF
30 May 2016 Mexico and the European Union launch talks to update their current free trade agreement PDF
11 May 2015 Mexico and the European Union announce their intention to upgrade the EU-Mexico Free Trade Agreement PDF
Source:   European Union; Secretaría de Economía, México; European Commission

  Related Articles and Studies
   
February 2017 European Commission. Ex-post evaluation of the implementation of the EU-Mexico Free Trade Agreement PDF
2010 Secretaría de Economía de México. X Aniversario del Tratado de Libre Comercio entre México y la Unión Europea: Un Balance Spanish PDF
2008 Secretaría de Economía de México. Principales resultados del TLCUEM en el comercio y la inversión entre México y la UE Spanish PDF
2008 Secretaría de Economía de México. Descripción de las disciplinas establecidas en el TLC entre México y la Unión Europea Spanish PDF
  Secretaría de Economía de Mexico. Chronology of Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and the European UnionPDF
 
  Sources
   
 

Spanish version 
Recent Developments
 

28 April 2020. Negotiations for the modernization of the commercial pillar of the Agreement between Mexico and the European Union conclude new!


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