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Mexico-European Union |
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Background and Negotiations |
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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
 |
| 24 November 1999 |
Conclusion of Mexico-EU free trade agreement
negotiations |
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Second round of Mexico-EU FTA negotiations
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| 09 November 1998 |
Opening of Free Trade Negotiations between
EU and Mexico |
| 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
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| 08 December 1997 |
Interim Agreement
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| 08 December 1997 |
Final Act
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| 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)
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| 08 December 1997 |
Signing of Mexico-EU Agreement
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| 13 May 1996 |
EU Council approves proposal on negotiations
with Mexico |
| Source: Council
of the European Union; European Union |
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Entry into Force |
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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.
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Implementation of the Agreement |
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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.
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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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 matters |
| 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
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| 18 May 2005 |
Decision Nº 4/2004
of the EU-Mexico Joint Council of 18 May 2005 amending Joint Council Decision Nº 2/2001
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| 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 2000 |
| 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 Council |
| 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
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| 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 committees |
| 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
cooperation |
| 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
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| 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 Council |
| 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")
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| 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
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| 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
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| 23 March 2000 |
Decision Nº 2/2000
of the EC-Mexico Joint Council of 23 March 2000
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Annexes (OJ L 145,
29.9.2000, p. 1.) |
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Joint Declarations I-XI
(OJ L 145, 29.9.2000 , p. 1166) |
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Joint Declarations
XII-XV |
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Explanatory notes
concerning Annex III of the EC-Mexico Agreement (Decision 2/2000 of the EC-Mexico Joint Council)
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| 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
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| 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 Committee |
| 26-27 November 2007 |
Brussels, Belgium.
Seventh meeting of the EU-Mexico
Committee
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| 26-27 October 2005 |
Brussels, Belgium.
Fifth meeting of the EU-Mexico
Joint Committee |
| 17 October 2005 |
Brussels, Belgium.
Fourth meeting of the EU-Mexico
Joint Committee |
| 11 November 2003 |
Brussels, Belgium.
Third meeting of the EU-Mexico
Joint Committee |
| 03 October 2002 |
Puebla, Mexico.
Second meeting of the EU-Mexico
Joint Committee |
| 02 October 2001 |
Brussels, Belgium.
First meeting of the EU-Mexico
Joint Committee |
| 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
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| 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 |
| 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 cooperation |
| 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 |
| 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
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| 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 Union
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| Source: European Union |
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Modernization of the Free Trade Agreement |
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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
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| 21 April 2018 |
Mexico and the European
Union conclude negotiations for a new global agreement
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| 12 February 2018 |
Mexico City, Mexico.
Ninth round of negotiations to modernize FTA
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| 08-17 January 2018 |
Mexico City, Mexico.
Eighth round of negotiations to modernize FTA
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| 11-21 December 2017 |
Brussels, Belgium.
Seventh round of negotiations to modernize FTA
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| 05 December 2017 |
Mexico City, Mexico.
Sixth round of negotiations to modernize the Mexico-EU FTA
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| 02 October 2017 |
Brussels, Belgium.
EU and Mexico Conclude Fifth Round of Trade Negotiations
EU negotiating textual proposals (all files are in
format)
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| 26 June 2017 |
Mexico City, Mexico. Fourth round of negotiations
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| 08 May 2017 |
Mexico Cty, Mexico.
Mexico and
the EU announced dates for the next three rounds of trade negotiations to modernize their FTA
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| 03-07 April 2017 |
Brussels, Belgium. Mexico-EU held third round of negotiations
to modernize their FTA
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| 01 February 2017 |
Brussels, Belgium.
Mexico and EU agree to accelerate
trade talks to modernize agreement |
| 22-25 November 2016 |
Mexico City, Mexico. Second round of negotiations towards the
modernization of the Mexico-EU Free Trade Agreement
EU proposals in the negotiations (all files are in
format):
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| 13-14 June 2016 |
Brussels, Belgium.
First round of negotiations towards
the modernization of the Mexico-EU Free Trade Agreement
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| 30 May 2016 |
Mexico and the
European Union launch talks to update their current free trade agreement
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| 11 May 2015 |
Mexico and the European Union
announce their intention to upgrade the EU-Mexico Free Trade Agreement
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| Source: European
Union; Secretaría de Economía, México; European Commission |
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Related Articles and Studies |
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Recent Developments |
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