Core Points - The EU and Vietnam have agreed to establish a dedicated joint working group to address trade barriers encountered during the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) [1] - Despite significant growth in bilateral trade, projected to reach €64 billion in 2024, a 47% year-on-year increase, challenges remain in the execution of the agreement [1] - The new working group will focus on unresolved issues, including illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, to promote a more balanced trade relationship [1] - The EU has expressed a desire for Vietnam to simplify the licensing procedures for EU facilities that meet health and phytosanitary standards and has suggested a mutual recognition mechanism for certifications across the EU [1] - Based on the achievements of the EVFTA, the EU proposed upgrading the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, aiming to enhance cooperation in sectors such as energy and semiconductors [1]

Core Insights - Morocco's strategic geographical position and extensive trade network make it an attractive partner for Chinese companies looking to expand in Africa [1] - Morocco is the only African country with free trade agreements with both the EU and the US, providing tariff-free access to over 50 countries under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework [1] - The country has significant advantages in the renewable energy and automotive manufacturing sectors, positioning it as an ideal partner for collaboration [1] Industry and Company Focus - Discussions were held between Moroccan officials and Chinese companies, particularly in the fields of electric vehicles, batteries, photovoltaics, and green hydrogen [1] - The meeting included a visit to Guoxuan High-Tech's headquarters in Hefei, highlighting the potential for future collaboration in these sectors [1] - Moroccan representatives emphasized the importance of training local employees who will return to Morocco to contribute to these industries [1]

Group 1 - The European Union is preparing to sign a free trade agreement with India by the end of 2025, which aims to strengthen its geopolitical position and reduce dependence on the United States [1] - Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU will not impose 100% tariffs on goods from India and China as requested by Washington [3] - The EU's decision to maintain its own trade policies reflects a shift towards greater independence, influenced by internal issues in the US, the upcoming trade agreement with India, and lessons learned from the Russia-Ukraine conflict [6]

Core Points - The signing of a free trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) marks a significant step in expanding Brazil's trade agreement network [1] - Mercosur and its member countries reaffirm their support for rules-based trade amidst challenging international conditions, aiming to help domestic companies expand their markets [1] - In 2023, Mercosur has already signed a free trade agreement with Singapore and completed negotiations for a free trade agreement with the European Union, with plans to sign it later this year [1] - Brazil is committed to quickly concluding negotiations with the UAE, resuming talks with Canada, and expanding existing agreements with Mexico and India [1]

Core Insights - Thailand's trade benefits under free trade agreements (FTAs) are expected to expand significantly in the first half of 2025, with a total utilization value of $44.79 billion, accounting for 79.6% of eligible FTA trade, marking a 10.2% increase compared to the same period last year [1] FTA Utilization Rankings - The top five FTAs by utilization amount are: - ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA): $15.73 billion, utilization rate of 68% [1] - ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA): $12.62 billion, utilization rate of 93% [1] - ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA): $5.53 billion, utilization rate of 75% [1] - Thailand-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA): $3.18 billion, utilization rate of 77% [1] - Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA): $2.75 billion, utilization rate of 58% [1] Popular Products under FTAs - The five most popular products under FTAs driving Thailand's exports are fresh durians, motor vehicles, synthetic rubber, unrefined platinum, and sugar, which continue to support Thailand's export growth in various markets [1]

Core Viewpoint - The pressure from the U.S. tariff measures has accelerated the willingness and demand for India and the EU to expedite free trade negotiations, with a goal to reach an agreement by the end of the year [1][4]. Group 1: Trade Negotiation Progress - India and the EU are expected to hold at least 10 meetings in the coming months to negotiate a free trade agreement [1][4]. - The EU has become one of India's most important trading partners, with bilateral trade in goods projected to reach $137.5 billion in the fiscal year 2024-2025, surpassing the $132 billion trade between India and the U.S. [2]. - Approximately 6,000 European companies operate in India, supporting 2 million direct jobs and 6 million indirect jobs [2]. Group 2: Historical Context - Negotiations for the bilateral free trade agreement began in 2007 but faced delays due to significant differences in economic structures and core demands [2]. - Talks were stalled in 2013 over tariff disagreements on products like automobiles and wine, but were resumed in 2022 with new topics such as geographical indications and investment protection [2]. Group 3: Current Negotiation Challenges - Key areas of disagreement include market access for agricultural and dairy products, rules of origin, food safety standards, and labor and environmental obligations [6][7]. - India is cautious about opening sensitive markets, particularly in agriculture, and seeks to exclude products like rice, sugar, and dairy from negotiations [6]. - The EU demands India to lower tariffs and non-tariff barriers, particularly for automobiles and medical devices, while also emphasizing high standards for intellectual property protection and sustainable development [7]. Group 4: Impact of U.S. Tariffs - The U.S. has imposed significant tariffs on Indian exports, with rates reaching up to 50%, creating direct pressure on India [3][4]. - The EU is also affected by U.S. tariffs, particularly on steel and aluminum, which has intensified the urgency for India and the EU to finalize their trade agreement [3][4]. Group 5: Future Considerations - The implementation of the EU's carbon border tax, effective January 1, 2026, poses a significant challenge for India, as it will affect high carbon emission products exported to the EU, potentially increasing costs and reducing competitiveness [7]. - The U.S. is closely monitoring the India-EU negotiations and may influence the process by leveraging its trade relations with both parties [8].

南共市与欧洲自贸联盟2015年3月启动对话，至今共举行14轮自贸谈判。今年7月2日，双方在阿根廷首 都布宜诺斯艾利斯完成自贸协定谈判。 新华社布宜诺斯艾利斯9月16日电（记者张铎 王钟毅）阿根廷外交部16日宣布，阿根廷、巴西等南方共 同市场创始成员国当天与挪威、瑞士等欧洲自由贸易联盟成员国签署自由贸易协定。 来源：新华社 声明说，自贸协定涵盖货物贸易、服务贸易、投资、知识产权等方面，将为南共市成员国和欧洲自贸联 盟成员国创造更多商机，惠及中小企业。双方将共同致力于确保自贸协定尽快获得批准并生效。 阿根廷外交部在一份声明中说，南共市—欧洲自贸联盟自贸协定将形成一个覆盖约3亿人口、经济总量 超过4.3万亿美元的自贸区，改善双方97%以上出口产品的市场准入，促进贸易增长，惠及企业和个 人。 1991年3月，阿根廷、巴西、巴拉圭和乌拉圭四国总统在巴拉圭首都亚松森签署《亚松森条约》，宣布 建立南方共同市场。1995年1月，南共市正式启动。欧洲自贸联盟成立于1960年，目前成员国有瑞士、 挪威、冰岛和列支敦士登。 ...

南共市与欧洲自贸联盟在里约热内卢签署自贸协定 中新社圣保罗9月16日电 (记者 林春茵)当地时间16日，巴西、阿根廷、巴拉圭和乌拉圭等南方共同市场 (MERCOSUL)创始成员国与瑞士、挪威等欧洲自由贸易联盟(EFTA)成员国在巴西里约热内卢正式签署 自由贸易协定(FTA)，将共建一个覆盖约3亿人口、经济总量超过4.3万亿美元的自贸区。 据南共市和欧盟自贸联盟当天联合发布的声明称，南共市—欧洲自贸联盟自贸协定涵盖货物贸易、服务 贸易、投资、知识产权、政府采购、竞争政策、原产地规则、贸易救济、动植物检疫、技术性贸易壁 垒、争端解决机制，及可持续发展等方面，改善双方97%以上出口产品的市场准入。这将推动双边贸 易，为各成员国企业和民众带来切实利益，尤其是中小企业将迎来更多商业机会。 南共市与欧洲自贸联盟首轮自贸谈判于2017年6月在阿根廷布宜诺斯艾利斯举行，至今共举行14轮自贸 谈判。2025年7月完成自贸协定谈判。 本文为转载内容，授权事宜请联系原著作权人 中新经纬版权所有，未经书面授权，任何单位及个人不得转载、摘编或以其它方式使用。 关注中新经纬微信公众号(微信搜索"中新经纬"或"jwview")，看更多精彩 ...

Group 1 - The United States is preparing to initiate the largest free trade agreement renegotiation, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), with public consultations expected to begin within a month [1] - The USMCA includes a mandatory six-year review clause, and after the public consultation, the US government must hold at least one public hearing and submit a report to Congress by January 2026 [1][2] - The USMCA replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and was touted as a key trade achievement during Trump's first term [1] Group 2 - Trump's administration previously imposed high tariffs on Canada and Mexico, citing drug smuggling issues, which disrupted the complex North American supply chains [2] - Despite exemptions for USMCA-compliant goods, significant trade activities between the US and its neighbors remain exposed to tariff risks [2] - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated that progress is being made in discussions with Trump regarding trade issues, although short-term agreements on tariff reductions are not expected [3] Group 3 - The US Trade Representative's office has not commented on the situation, while discussions between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum focused on cross-border security cooperation [3] - There is a belief that broader trade agreements will require consensus on security issues, which are critical to the US's anti-drug efforts [3] - Trump extended existing tariffs on Mexican goods for an additional 90 days, citing the complexity of reaching agreements with Mexico [4] Group 4 - The US Trade Representative's office highlighted other barriers in US-Mexico trade, including Mexico's energy policies favoring state-owned enterprises and insufficient copyright protections [5] - Mexico's Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard acknowledged that the upcoming months will not be easy for the USMCA review, emphasizing the need for mutual cooperation to maintain competitiveness [5]

Core Viewpoint - The Brazilian government believes that Italy will play a "key" role in the approval of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement in the European Council [1] Group 1: Agreement Approval Process - The agreement requires at least 15 member states' support and these countries must represent over 65% of the EU's total population [1] - France and Poland have shown some goodwill recently, but their strong agricultural lobbying may lead to opposition or abstention, as they together account for nearly 24% of the EU population [1] - Italy, with over 13% of the EU population, could block the agreement if it votes against it; however, the Italian government, led by Prime Minister Meloni, is reportedly positive about the agreement despite pressure from local farmers [1] Group 2: Monitoring Other Member States - Brazil is closely watching the positions of smaller member states such as Ireland, Austria, the Netherlands, and Belgium, as their collective stance could also impact the agreement's fate [1] - The European Council is expected to initiate formal discussions only when it is assured of sufficient supportive votes [1] - The European Commission submitted the agreement to the Council because it believes there is a possibility of approval [1] Group 3: European Parliament Expectations - Brazil anticipates that while there may not be a clear advantage in the European Parliament, the chances of a majority approval are relatively high [1]