EC/Mexico agreement: interim agreement on trade, implementing economic partnership and cooperation agreement

OBJECTIVE: conclusion of an interim agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the Community and Mexico. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 98/504/EC concerning the conclusion of the interim agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part. SUBSTANCE: The interim agreement aims to speed up implementation of the provisions on trade and trade-related matters of the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement signed in Brussels on 8 December 1997 between the Community and its Member States and Mexico (AVC97289). Numerous unilateral and bilateral declarations have been added to help interpret the agreement, in particular with regard to: - respect for the 'human rights' clause in the agreement, by Mexico, - application of European competition rules and certain international conventions on intellectual property, by the Community, - respect for certain international rules with regard to fisheries and maritime transport, by both parties. Early implementation of this agreement will enable both parties to begin negotiations with a view to implementing as soon as possible the liberalisation of trade which is the aim of the main agreement. A declaration annexed to the agreement describes the procedure which will lead to the conclusion of these negotiations and of the timetable for liberalisation of trade in goods and services which is linked to it. In the short term, the joint council and committee for managing the agreement and concluding the liberalisation negotiations will be established. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1.07.1998 �