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[chadskin]

The European Union and Mexico will hold two additional negotiating rounds before the summer as part of an accelerated negotiation schedule for a new, reformed Free Trade Agreement.

The dates of the upcoming rounds (3-7 April and 26-29 June) were agreed by Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström, and the Minister of Economy of Mexico, Ildefonso Guajardo. As part of this new schedule, fixed during a phone conversation, the two also agreed to meet in Mexico City between these rounds to take stock and push negotiators for further progress.

In a joint statement following their phone call, Commissioner Malmström and Minister of Economy Guajardo said: "We will take our trade relations fully into the 21st Century. We will be able to boost growth, making our firms more competitive and widening choices for consumers while creating jobs. Together, we are witnessing the worrying rise of protectionism around the world. Side by side, as like-minded partners, we must now stand up for the idea of global, open cooperation. We are already well underway in our joint efforts to deepen openness to trade on both sides. Now, we will accelerate the pace of these talks in order to reap the benefits sooner."

http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1617

As announced in 2015, the new EU-Mexico FTA will be comparable to CETA and TTIP.

 

[Apharmd]

:')

 

[Ragnar Blackmane]

Seems like Trump and his attempts to strong-arm neighboring countries are getting walled in.

 

[Joni]

They need to shave off some bad parts from the mentioned trade agreements, but for the rest Mexico could be a nice trustworthy partner.

 

[fanboi]

This is quite aggressive move from EU against Trump.

I like.

 

[Dark Cloud]

Yes yes yes. I love it.

 

[Mimosa97]

I hope the EU moves on this trade agreement like a bitch

 

[Bruce Springsteen]

Greatest negotiator in mankind is what he said

 

[norinrad]

Let's quickly finalize things with Canada too.

 

[Ethelwulf]

Awesome! As a mexican living in Europe this is so bueno!

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

Haha, good.
The rest of the sane world seems to be playing its cards right against Trump.

 

[Xando]

We should do a trade deal with every country Trump is hostile towards just to fuck with him.

 

[Zaph]

There is no better time than now for the EU to be bullish making moves. Compared to the US, its looks like a bastion of stability and common-sense.

Spoiler

Take us back, please! The whole Brexit thing was just a social experiment, bro.

 

[marc^o^]

Greatest negotiator in mankind is what he said

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fM8iWOOLlls

For the two of us who missed it.

 

[Gnome]

Maybe the EU will finally get to taste the glory of real Mexican food.

 

[d9b]

Good!

 

[Danneee]

Holy crap, Trump will be begging for trade deals in a couple of years time.

 

[Jamiaro]

I did not expect this. Pleasantly surprised.

 

[itsbenoclock]

Feel like the UK is getting out at the worst time if the EU manages to snatch away some sweet trade deals from Trump, ffs.

 

[Ragnar Blackmane]

Greatest negotiator in mankind is what he said

He truly gets the best trade deals moving, but not for his own country.

 

[Frankfurter]

Amazing. Making Trump look like the fool he is, makes my day a lo better. Now also start negotiations with Japan and other countries in Asia.

 

[31GhostsIV]

Great! Should work out nicely for us in the UK as an EU memb... oh yeah. Fuck it all.

 

[Nerazar]

I think the populace will back this deal, because TTIP got blocked because America was the center piece of it. Good initiative! Me gusta!

 

[-Plasma Reus-]

Let's get Canada closer too.

 

[michaelius]

I hope the EU moves on this trade agreement like a bitch

I wouldn't worry about that. EU leadership showed time and time again that they will do everything they can for well being of multinational corporations over protecting their own citizens.

 

[Bitch Pudding]

UK's probably gonna veto it as long as they can. And there's always Belgium, of course.

 

[Xando]

Let's get Canada closer too.

We already have signed a trade deal with them last year.
Unless they wanna join the EU i'm afraid there is not much more to get them closer.

 

[Reversed]

Más grandes y más unidos

 

[neurosisxeno]

I hope the EU moves on this trade agreement like a bitch

 

[Danneee]

UK's probably gonna veto it as long as they can. And there's always Belgium, of course.

By now I don´t think anyone cares what the UK:s opinion is on anything EU related.

 

[SiRatul]

Would love for the US being the common enemy who everyone else unites against.

 

[RalchAC]

Haha, good.
The rest of the sane world seems to be playing its cards right against Trump.

I wouldn't say it's "against Trump". It's just that the EU doesn't trust him. If he wants to take it personal it's his problem, but he can't have a protectionist speech and think that other countries will act as if nothing was happening.

 

[fabricated backlash]

Yeah if it's the same shit sandwich like TTIP they can stuff it. But closer Trade ties with Mexico? Do it.

 

[Carn82]

I think the populace will back this deal, because TTIP got blocked because America was the center piece of it. Good initiative! Me gusta!

Yeah, good point. Most arguments -if i recall correctly- against TTIP were that American companies and policies would become more influential in European countries.

 

[Hyun Sai]

EU is out for blood. Good, you want to make as much as you can in those 8 years.

 

[Ragnar Blackmane]

I wouldn't worry about that. EU leadership showed time and time again that they will do everything they can for well being of multinational corporations over protecting their own citizens.

I think you are mixing up the US and the EU.

 

[MikeHattsu]

Maybe the EU will finally get to taste the glory of real Mexican food.

Yes!

 

[-Plasma Reus-]

We already have signed a trade deal with them last year.
Unless they wanna join the EU i'm afraid there is not much more to get them closer.

I want Canada to join.

Maybe the EU will finally get to taste the glory of real Mexican food.

The best food. Tremendous.

 

[kruis]

I always wonder how the EU thinks it can create jobs through free trade agreements with low income countries. It didn't work out for the US with jobs going across the border because it made sense for US companies to set up factories in Mexico because of the lower wages and reduced import duties.

"The U.S.-Mexico trade deficit was $50 billion for 2014. It was about $54 billion for the first 11 months of 2015. That means Mexico sold the United States $54 billion more in goods and services than the United States sold to Mexico."

 

[Furoba]

Better get that eu japan deal done as well. Right now cheese is a dealbreaker.

 

[Funky Papa]

Important to note: there are also rumblings about the EU replacing America in the TTP.

I damn well hope the EU plays this right.

 

[Bitch Pudding]

By now I don´t think anyone cares what the UK:s opinion is on anything EU related.

As long as they are a member, they can and will vote. And if they think a veto is in their favor, maybe as a simple token for Trump or as leverage for other negotiations, they'll do it.

And it's not like every EU member is looking forward to cheap imports from Mexico.

 

[jacob armitage]

Let's get Canada closer too.

We are ! We just had CETA go through last year, hopefully it means it can be expanded to include better trade deals for Mexico, if needed. My knowledge of these trade deals is rudimentary at best, but from my limited understanding it sounds great for all involved.

 

[QuicheFontaine]

I want Canada to join.

Really? You want the EU to have an indefensible land border with a dangerous terrorist state?

Spoiler

Lol I've got jokes

 

[Majine]

Come over here, Mexico. We love you!

 

[Joni]

I always wonder how the EU thinks it can create jobs through free trade agreements with low income countries. It didn't work out for the US with jobs going across the border because it made sense for US companies to set up factories in Mexico because of the lower wages and reduced import duties.

Mexico is that much cheaper than Eastern Europe?

Important to note: there are also rumblings about the EU replacing America in the TTP.

I damn well hope the EU plays this right.

That would be brilliant for the trade war with the US.

 

[PJV3]

Better get that eu japan deal done as well. Right now cheese is a dealbreaker.

Hard Brexit is making that very likely.

 

[Mimosa97]

I wouldn't worry about that. EU leadership showed time and time again that they will do everything they can for well being of multinational corporations over protecting their own citizens.

I was just making a Trump reference. I know the EU has sold its soul to big-corporate and anti-workers lobbies a long time ago ...

I was losing hope lol

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

I wouldn't say it's "against Trump". It's just that the EU doesn't trust him. If he wants to take it personal it's his problem, but he can't have a protectionist speech and think that other countries will act as if nothing was happening.

Sure, they're not openly going against Trump of course but they are preparing for the worst while taking advantage of his diplomatic blunders, as they should.

 

[Frankfurter]

I wouldn't worry about that. EU leadership showed time and time again that they will do everything they can for well being of multinational corporations over protecting their own citizens.

You mean things like getting rid of roaming charges, which multinational corporations surely love?