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Peru and Colombia

Answer

The EU’s general approach for free trade agreements with low-income developing countries is to pursue them on a regional basis, as opposed to bilaterally. This was set out in the European Commission’s 2006 paper, Global Europe: Competing in the World. In the case of the Community of Andean Nations there have been some difficulties with the regional approach. These have arisen because the members of the CAN have struggled to reach a common position on the trade pillar with the European Union. Colombia and Peru have expressed a desire for those CAN countries that are ready to undertake negotiations to embark on a bilateral, fast-track approach. The European Commission has so far indicated that while it regrets the inability of CAN to find a common position, it is open-minded to this suggestion. The European Commission has stressed that next steps will be dependent on the will of EU member states. The UK’s response to the suggestion of fast-track negotiations with Colombia and Peru is that this request should be considered seriously. Although there are benefits to the overall regional approach, it is also important that countries that are ready to proceed with a free trade agreement are not unduly penalised because the CAN as a whole is not ready to proceed. However, if a fast-track approach is followed, it is important for the UK that it is open to all members of CAN, either now or in the future, and that any solution is the result of mutually agreed arrangement.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

705 c329-30WA; 6527

Session

2007-08

Subjects

EU external trade Colombia Peru Andean Community

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk