Mercosur-EFTA deal to slightly improve beef access to Europe

During the recent Mercosur presidential summit held in Buenos Aires, representatives of the bloc and of EFTA (the European Free Trade Association, composed of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) announced the conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement. Talks began in 2017.

According to Argentina’s Valor Carne publication, the beef-related concessions that will be implemented once the agreement takes effect include:

• Switzerland will open a 3,000-ton annual quota free of tariffs for Mercosur.

• It will also eliminate tariffs on Mercosur beef entering through a WTO quota of 23,000 tons, which can be used by any supplier and currently carries tariffs between 5% and 35%.

• Norway will open a minimum quota of 336 tons for Mercosur and will also reduce tariffs on purchases through its WTO quota of 1,084 tons.

• Iceland will cut in half the tariff on a universal quota of 95 tons.