The free trade talks between Colombia, Peru and Ecuador and
representatives of the European Union (E.U.) were extended by a day in order to find a “fair and equitable” closure.
The fourth round of the talks, which began Monday in Bogota, were planned to finish Thursday. They will now finish Friday. Colombian Trade Minister Guillermo Plata said that”sensitive products” including intellectual property, sugar and bananas were obstacles in negotiations.
Colombia’s head negotiator Santiago Pardo said that the lowest possible customs duty on sugar and bananas was being sought and this was why they remained on the “unresolved” list.
Rupert Schelegelmilch, the E.U.’S head negotiator said at a press conference that his party was “very interested in this negotiation”.
He added that in the case that one country requires more time to sign an agreement, the E.U. would be prepared to wait and that one country’s hestitance would not necessarily jeopardize the agreement for other countries.
The next round of talks are planned for July 20 in Lima.
