EFTA-Mexico: Increase in trade, calls for further trade expansion

Published 04-03-2005
In their latest meeting, the Joint EFTA-Mexico Committee expressed satisfaction with the development of trade between the countries, in particular the recent increase of the trade volume.

In a meeting yesterday, the Joint EFTA-Mexico Committee expressed satisfaction with the development of trade between the countries, in particular the recent increase of the trade volume.  Merchandise trade between Mexico and the EFTA States in 2004 increased by almost 20% compared to the previous year.  Machines, pharmaceutical and chemical products, vehicles, agricultural products, oil and fish were the most important products exchanged between the parties.  However, the Committee noted that there is still considerable scope for further trade expansion, including trade in services.

This was the third meeting between the Member States of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and Mexico after the Free Trade Agreement entered into force on July 1, 2001.

The Head of the Mexican Delegation, Director General for Europe and the FTAA Manuel Luna Calderón, and the EFTA Spokesman, Ambassador Norbert Frick of Liechtenstein, concurred that the Agreement is functioning well.  In order to take full advantage of the Free Trade Agreement, the economic operators should be better informed of the opportunities that it provides.

Apart from the Free Trade Agreement, broader trade policy issues were also discussed, including the commitment of the parties to the WTO Doha Development Agenda.

The next meeting of the Joint EFTA-Mexico Committee is foreseen to take place in Geneva in 2006.

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