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After Only Two Months of Implementation, the EU Association Agreement Brings the First Tangible Results

Monday, 24 November 20145968 views
After Only Two Months of Implementation, the EU Association Agreement Brings the First Tangible Results

Automatically translated summary. The full article is available in Romanian.

Only two months after the EU Association Agreement entered into provisional force on 1 September 2014, it is already producing tangible effects for Moldova. Under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU, producers that have implemented EU standards can export to that market without customs duties.

The agro-industrial sector, considered the most sensitive to trade liberalisation with the EU, has felt the benefits most. In September-October 2014, compared with the previous year, exports rose for wine (+26%), apples (2.7 times), plums (8.1 times), table grapes (over 5.8 times), frozen sweet corn (over 3 times) and cereals (+77%). The growth is all the more impressive because 2013 was a very fruitful year, providing a high base for comparison.

To fully release exporters' potential, the Government should extend the free trade area to other products, improve the quality system and ensure a viable standardisation system. The Agreement is a crucial element for boosting competitiveness and living standards, but this requires firm political will and broad consensus among political elites.

View the original article in Romanian