Subtitle
Latin America's Free Trade Agreements with the European Union
Publication Name
Briefing
Year of Publication
2014
Organization Name
GRAIN
Publisher
GRAIN
City
Barcelona
Web Page
Country of Publication
Spain
Considered Countries
Mexico
Chile
Category
Reports
Theme
BILATERAL RELATIONS UE - LAC
Country - European Union
BIREGIONAL RELATIONS UE - LAC
Association Agreeements
Keyword(s)
European Union
Latin America
Economic Relations
FTA
Agreement
Development Co-operation
Trade
Tariffs
Abstract
The European Union is promoting “association agreements” or “co-operation
agreements” with Latin American countries. These agreements appear
weaker and more flexible than the equivalent agreements that the USA is
signing with countries in the region. But behind this affable facade the EU
is tough: it is insisting that the countries agree to extend periodically what
has been agreed and to undertake an undefined number of legal,
administrative, economic, technical and social reforms, the objective of
which is to grant European countries ever more favourable conditions in all
aspects of national life.
This amounts to a new Conquest (as the 1492 European “discovery” of
the Americas is often referred to). It will lead to transantional corporations
taking control over communications, water, the banking system, oil,
biodiversity, all kinds of raw materials and fishing, as well as being able to
use Latin American countries as bases for exports. Eventually European
companies will take the place of state companies and be responsible for
establishing norms, certification and patents. Tariff barriers, taxes,
phytosanitary standards, quality controls and any other regulation seen as a
barrier to the expansion of European companies and their trade will be swept
away.
If these agreements are negotiated in secret and their implementation
becomes the responsibility of the executive branch of government, civil
society and the parliaments of the countries involved will not be allowed to
protest or to investigate properly what is going on.
It is hoped that this briefing will promote discussion about what is
happening and help Latin American society to stand up to the new European
invasion.
agreements” with Latin American countries. These agreements appear
weaker and more flexible than the equivalent agreements that the USA is
signing with countries in the region. But behind this affable facade the EU
is tough: it is insisting that the countries agree to extend periodically what
has been agreed and to undertake an undefined number of legal,
administrative, economic, technical and social reforms, the objective of
which is to grant European countries ever more favourable conditions in all
aspects of national life.
This amounts to a new Conquest (as the 1492 European “discovery” of
the Americas is often referred to). It will lead to transantional corporations
taking control over communications, water, the banking system, oil,
biodiversity, all kinds of raw materials and fishing, as well as being able to
use Latin American countries as bases for exports. Eventually European
companies will take the place of state companies and be responsible for
establishing norms, certification and patents. Tariff barriers, taxes,
phytosanitary standards, quality controls and any other regulation seen as a
barrier to the expansion of European companies and their trade will be swept
away.
If these agreements are negotiated in secret and their implementation
becomes the responsibility of the executive branch of government, civil
society and the parliaments of the countries involved will not be allowed to
protest or to investigate properly what is going on.
It is hoped that this briefing will promote discussion about what is
happening and help Latin American society to stand up to the new European
invasion.
Download document