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Estonian minister supports EU to continue free trade treaties

Xinhua, December 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

The new Estonian Minister of Rural Affairs Tarmo Tamm supports the European Union (EU) to move forward with free trade treaties to open up new markets for the EU agricultural sector, local media reported on Friday.

Ambitious free trade negotiations with third countries are needed to find new markets for EU agricultural products, Tamm was quoted as saying in a press release after a meeting on Thursday with the European Commission's Directorate General for Trade Jean-Luc Demarty.

The European Commission ensures that no trade agreement between the EU and third countries will put European farmers at a competitive disadvantage, said Tamm, who took office on Dec. 12 to succeed Martin Repinski after the latter's resignation.

Tamm also said that Estonia must be prepared to fully support the European Commission in preparing for the 11th ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to be held in Buenos Aires at the end of 2017, the focus of which will be on agriculture.

As Estonia will take over the presidency of the Council of the EU in exactly 190 days, it supports negotiations with other EU and WTO members in order to reach an agreement for the EU common interests in the WTO ministerial meeting, according to the Estonian minister. Endit