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A modern deal for competitiveness, economic security and sustainability
On 17 January 2025, the EU with Mexico concluded negotiations for a Global Agreement. Mexico is one of the EU’s most longest-standing trade agreement partner, with our original agreement dating back to 2000.
The deal will support economic growth, boost competitiveness and strengthen resilience on both sides by opening up trade and investment opportunities and securing sustainable access and processing of raw materials.
EU-Mexico trade
Total trade in goods in 2023: €82 billion
EU exports of goods in 2023: €53 billion
Mexico exports to EU in 2023: €29 billion
EU investment stocks in Mexico in 2022: €195 billion
Number of EU businesses exporting to Mexico: 42,000
Increase in EU exports since the EU-Mexico agreement came into force: 302%
Main benefits of the agreement
- Strong potential to increase EU agri-food exports to Mexico by removing high tariffs, benefitting European farmers and agri-food companies,
- Easier for EU companies to bid for government contracts, invest and provide services in a variety of sectors in Mexico,
- More secure supply of materials critical for the green and digital transitions,
- Extra benefits for small businesses through simplified standards and procedures,
- Stronger protection of climate and labour rights through enhanced cooperation and enforceable commitments.
A deal for European farmers
- Increased market access for agri-food exports by removing 95% of high Mexican tariffs,
- Protection for 568 EU Geographical Indications, safeguarding Europe’s famous food and drink products from imitation.
Public procurement, services, and investment
Improved access for EU companies to tender for Mexican government contracts by:
- enabling them to participate in a wider range of public tenders by Mexico’s federal government, including unprecedented access to Mexican State (subcentral) level,
- Mexico bringing its rules on transparency and non-discrimination in line with those of the World Trade Organization’s Government Procurement Agreement.
The Global Agreement will make it easier for EU companies to invest in Mexico by:
- setting rules to protect investors from unfair treatment by governments,
- improving investment protection by replacing the old system of investor-state dispute settlement system with a new Investment Court System.
The Global Agreement will allow EU companies to provide services in Mexico, in important sectors such as:
- finance,
- telecommunications,
- transport,
- digital trade,
- environmental services,
- postal and courier services.
A dedicated digital chapter removes barriers to online trade, introduces rules so firms can operate online with certainty, and protects online consumers.
Securing raw material supply for digital and green transitions
The Agreement will ensure fair trade and investment in raw materials through:
- improved market access and non-discrimination,
- elimination of export restrictions, including import duties, which will result in cheaper products,
- prohibition of export monopolies and unjustified government interventions in price setting,
- banning of dual pricing or export pricing where export prices are set above domestic prices.
Intellectual property
The new agreement improves the protection in Mexico of EU intellectual property:
- making it illegal in Mexico to sell imitations of distinctive food and drink products from specific regions in the EU, such as Champagne, Parma ham, Balsamic Vinegar from Modena, and Rioja wine,
- protecting EU artists’ work, for example by making it illegal in Mexico to make unauthorised copies of their work or to use it without paying royalties.
Environment, labour rights and civil society
The EU's Global Agreement with Mexico will promote sustainable development by:
- providing strong, legally binding commitments on environmental protection and labour rights,
- encouraging firms to operate responsibly and accountably,
- promoting the sustainable management of fisheries and forests, and combating illegal fishing and logging activities,
- empowering civil society to monitor the implementation of the agreement through Domestic Advisory Groups and a civil society forum.
All these commitments will be enforceable via dispute settlement procedures by independent panels of experts, with a specific committee to be set up to monitor their implementation on the ground.