On the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Chile
AGRI-AD-753797
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Francisco Guerreiro
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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development gives its opinion on the Interim Agreement on Trade between the EU and Chile, which covers the trade and investment market access parts of the wider EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement.¶ It notes the agreement removes tariffs on 99.9% of EU exports while keeping exclusions for sensitive products such as sugar, rice and bananas, and grants extra access only through duty-free quotas.¶ It highlights a trade and sustainable development chapter committing both sides to implement the Paris Agreement, and a chapter on sustainable food systems covering antimicrobial resistance and animal welfare.¶¶ The committee calls on the Committee on International Trade to recommend approval of the proposal for a Council decision to conclude the agreement.¶
Committee position. The committee recommends that Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the agreement, and calls on the Committee on International Trade to recommend approval of the proposal for a Council decision on conclusion.¶¶
Key points
- The agreement is the Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) covering trade and investment market access, under EU exclusive competence, and it expires once the Advanced Framework Agreement (AFA) enters into force.¶
- The AFA makes 99.9% of EU exports tariff-free on the Chilean side, but keeps exclusions for sensitive products: sugar for both parties, and rice and bananas for the EU.¶
- Extra EU market access is granted only as duty-free quotas; existing quotas for beef and sheep meat are rationalised with fixed amounts and no annual growth rate, while increases for pork, garlic and canned fish remain modest.
- The agreement protects a further 216 European agri-food geographical indications and 18 Chilean ones.
- A dedicated trade and sustainable development chapter commits both parties to effectively implement the Paris Agreement and their Nationally Determined Contributions, and includes a review clause to revise provisions as environmental and social standards evolve.¶
- A chapter on sustainable food systems provides a basis for EU-Chile cooperation on the transition to sustainable food systems, including antimicrobial resistance and animal welfare.¶
- Both parties commit to maintain their current prohibitions on using antibiotics as growth promoters.
- Parliament's consent is required for the Council to adopt a decision concluding the agreement.¶
- The committee calls on the Committee on International Trade to recommend approval of the proposal for a Council decision on conclusion of the agreement.¶
Who is affected
- EU exporters of agricultural and food products, who gain tariff-free access to Chile except for excluded sensitive products.¶
- EU producers of sugar, rice and bananas, whose products remain excluded from tariff liberalisation.
- EU producers of beef, sheep meat, pork, garlic and canned fish, affected by duty-free quotas.
- Holders of European and Chilean agri-food geographical indications, with 216 and 18 additional protected names respectively.
- EU and Chilean food systems, through cooperation on antimicrobial resistance and animal welfare and the ban on antibiotics as growth promoters.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 99.9% of EU exports become tariff-free under the agreement.¶
- 216 European agri-food geographical indications are additionally protected.
- 18 Chilean geographical indications are additionally protected.
Legal basis: Article 218(6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.¶