Better protection for European foods and drink products in Mexico

By Becerril, Coca & Becerril, S.C.

Mexico and the European Union reached on April 21 a new agreement on their EU-Mexico Global Agreement. According to a press release from the EU, since now “practically all trade in goods” between both parts will be duty-free.

Simpler customs procedures will further benefit the EU's industry, including in sectors like pharmaceuticals, machinery and transport equipment. The agreement also lays down progressive rules on sustainable development. Among other things, the EU and Mexico have committed to effectively implementing their obligations under the Paris Agreement on climate change. It will also be the first EU trade agreement to tackle corruption in the private and public sectors.

"We reached an agreement as partners who are willing to discuss, to defend their interests while at the same time being willing to compromise to meet each other's expectations”, said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Among the main elements of the agreement agricultural exports from the EU are set to benefit the most, “such as poultry, cheese, chocolate, pasta, and pork”. The agreement will, in particular, “ensure the protection from imitation for 340 distinctive European foods and drink products in Mexico, so-called geographical indications, such as Comté cheese from France, Queijo São Jorge cheese from Portugal, Szegedi szalámi from Hungary, and Magiun de prune Topoloveni plums from Romania. “This means that EU producers of traditional delicacies are not struggling against copies, and when consumers buy these products they can do so knowing they are buying the real thing”, states the press release.

Based on the agreement, negotiators from both sides will continue their work to resolve the remaining technical issues and finalise the full legal text by the end of the year. Then, the Commission will proceed with the legal verification and translation of the agreement into all official EU languages, and will subsequently submit it for approval by the European Parliament and Council of the European Union.