Following today’s signing of the EU-Mexico Modernised Global Agreement (MGA) and the interim Trade Agreement (iTA), Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland and Secretary General of ICC Ireland, said that the news marks a significant opportunity for exporters and importers:
“We fully support today's development which demonstrates strong leadership by the EU. This comes at a time when companies in Ireland are looking to alternative markets to diversify their business and manage risk.”
Mr Talbot highlighted the tangible benefits:
“The real benefits for businesses will be a more straightforward route into a large and growing market of more than 130 million people.
In addition to exporters looking to enter the market, many exporters already have a strong presence in Mexico with around 229 companies trading into the market. Substantial tariff reductions will enable them to expand even more and scale their exports in a growing and increasingly accessible market.
There are significant opportunities across a range of sectors including agri-food and pharmaceuticals, while the expanded agreement also opens up further access to public procurement and services. This provides both businesses and the agricultural community with a broader platform to compete internationally.”
He continued:
“The expanded agreement also has the potential to help broaden the range of goods and services available to Irish consumers and support increased competition, which can contribute to more competitive pricing over time and help address cost-of-living pressures.”
He commented on supports for businesses:
“Ensuring businesses can fully benefit from the agreement will require a continued focus on practical supports and market access. To realise these opportunities, it is important that existing supports are strengthened, including clearer guidance on regulatory requirements and dedicated advisory support to help companies enter and scale in Mexico, as well as in other markets.”