Volume, number, page
PE486.052v01-00
Year of Publication
2012
Organization Name
European Parliament
Publisher
European Parliament
City
Brussels
Country of Publication
Belgium
ISBN or ISSN
978-92-823-3676-2
Considered Countries
Canada
United States
Colombia
Peru
Category
Reports
Theme
BILATERAL RELATIONS UE - LAC
Country - European Union
BIREGIONAL RELATIONS UE - LAC
Association Agreeements
Keyword(s)
European Union
Andean Countries
Trade
Agreement
Sustainable Development
FTA
Agriculture
Industry
Services
Human Rights
Democracy
Civil Society
Abstract
This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the EU Colombia-Peru Trade Agreement
to assist the European Parliament in its deliberations. EU efforts to negotiate a region-to
region agreement with the Andean Community (CAN) were not successful due to issues
within the CAN. The agreement is in line with EU FTA policy in terms of content. Taken
together with other EU agreements with South and Central America the Agreement is also
consistent with an EU policy of strengthening trade and investment with regions of potential
growth. There are small welfare effects from the agreement and trade benefits for the EU go
mostly to the classic EU export sectors of machinery, transport equipment and services. The
access to Colombia and Peru matches that and in some areas exceeds that provided in the US
and Canadian agreements. The gains for Colombia and Peru are in fruit (especially bananas)
and vegetables, but more importantly the Agreement ensures continued duty free access to the
EU for Colombian and Peruvian exports. Many of the civil society criticisms of the
Agreement have been addressed in the final text. The provisions on sustainable development
are equivalent to the current practice in trade agreements. On the issue of human rights the
Parliament will need to judge whether its consent for the Agreement is seen as a means of
ensuring continued progress towards better implementation in the partner countries, or as
condoning existing practices.
to assist the European Parliament in its deliberations. EU efforts to negotiate a region-to
region agreement with the Andean Community (CAN) were not successful due to issues
within the CAN. The agreement is in line with EU FTA policy in terms of content. Taken
together with other EU agreements with South and Central America the Agreement is also
consistent with an EU policy of strengthening trade and investment with regions of potential
growth. There are small welfare effects from the agreement and trade benefits for the EU go
mostly to the classic EU export sectors of machinery, transport equipment and services. The
access to Colombia and Peru matches that and in some areas exceeds that provided in the US
and Canadian agreements. The gains for Colombia and Peru are in fruit (especially bananas)
and vegetables, but more importantly the Agreement ensures continued duty free access to the
EU for Colombian and Peruvian exports. Many of the civil society criticisms of the
Agreement have been addressed in the final text. The provisions on sustainable development
are equivalent to the current practice in trade agreements. On the issue of human rights the
Parliament will need to judge whether its consent for the Agreement is seen as a means of
ensuring continued progress towards better implementation in the partner countries, or as
condoning existing practices.
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