Free Trade Agreements
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
The EU negotiates trade agreements on behalf of the member states – including Ireland. These agreements deal with preferential duty rates on the shipment of goods between the EU and countries around the world.
They have also evolved to cover a wider range of areas to facilitate trade. Among these include government procurement opportunities, business visitor visas, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, the certification of products, intellectual property rights and the cross border trade in services.
These far reaching agreements can take a number of years of detailed negotiations.
The EU has preferential trade agreements with about 70 countries worldwide. These countries represent nearly 32% of the EU’s external trade.
€3 billion worth of Irish exports are eligible for preferential tariffs as a result of these agreements.
There are a number of negotiations ongoing with countries in the hope that a future free trade agreement can be reached. Some of the more significant include Australia, New Zealand and Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay)
In 2019 the European Union and Vietnam agreed a Free Trade Agreement. The trade agreement covers a range of goods and services. The agreements sees significant tariffs reductions on food and beverage items as well as tackling a number of non tariff barriers. The agreement also includes commitments in the areas of international labour rights and protections, global environmental agreements and human rights.
Vietnam is an exciting Asian economy. Its GDP has been one of the fastest growing in the world over the past several years. This is powered by a large, youthful population. Reflecting the increased business potential, Enterprise Ireland has recently opened an office in Vietnam for the first time.
The European Union and Japan have signed the Economic Partnership Agreement, a comprehensive trade agreement including goods, services and investment, eliminating tariffs, non-tariff barriers and other trade-related issues, such as public procurement, regulatory issues, competition, and sustainable development.
Japan is one of the key trading partners of the European Union, it is its seventh largest trading partner globally and the second biggest one in Asia. Conversely, the European Union is Japan’s third largest trading partner. Together economies of Japan and the EU account for more than one third of world GDP.
The EPA applies as of 1 February 2019.
CETA was signed on 21 October 2017. The benefits related to tariffs are in force. CETA was the first of the new generation of trade agreements signed by the EU.
EU-Canada – Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) PAGE TO BE CREATED AND LINKED HERE
EU-Canada – Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement infographic [document 302878 ]
In October 2018, the EU and Singapore signed a Free Trade Agreement and Investment Protection Agreement (IPA). The EU-Singapore FTA is the first FTA between the EU and a member of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). This Agreement entered into force on 21 November 2019.
This has been agreed in principle with some outstanding technical issues being finalised during 2019.