The European Commission seeks to improve market access for European food and drink products in non-EU countries.
On behalf of the EU, the Commission negotiates and implements bilateral trade agreements with non-EU countries. Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs is responsible for the negotiation and implementation of preferential trade regimes for processed agricultural products (PAPs).
The EU has concluded, or is negotiating, these kinds of bilateral trade agreements with:
The access of the EU food industry to non-EU markets also depends on international trade agreements and negotiations, particularly those of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Within this multilateral framework, the Commission seeks to improve export competition and market access, in particular for EU food and drink products.
The WTO is a negotiating forum designed to liberalise world trade. The EU negotiates in the WTO on behalf of all EU countries.
At this time, WTO members are engaged in a round of multilateral negotiations known as the Doha Development Agenda. Negotiations are currently at a standstill; the four main players of trade in food products (Brazil, the EU, India and the USA) have held talks but have not yet reached an agreement.