Geneva – December 4, 2016
Talks on reduced tariffs for environmentally friendly goods have not brought to an agreement in Geneva.
EU negotiators – along with their counterparts from 16 other WTO members – tried to iron out their remaining differences on the final list of products to be subject to full tariff abolition until the very last moment but differences on key issues prevailed.
Bicycles, E-Bikes and Components were among the most discussed products but the line of the EU has been firm against their inclusion in the deal.
The group of 17 participants in the EGA talks comprised Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Chinese Taipei, the European Union, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Singapore, United States, Israel, Turkey and Iceland – which together account for the majority of world trade in goods.
“The participants will now return to capitals to consider next steps” said EU Commissioner Malmström in the aftermath of the last round of negotiations in Geneva. The EGA negotiations were formally launched in Geneva on 8 July 2014.
