1Council Decision (EU) 2026/1163 of 11 May 2026 on the signing of the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the United Mexican States

Council Decision (EU) 2026/1163 of 11 May 2026 on the signing of the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the United Mexican States THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91(1), Article 100(2) and Article 207(4), first subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Whereas: (1) On 4 May 2016, the Council authorised the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to open negotiations and negotiate the modernisation of the Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part OJ L 276, 28.10.2000, p. 45, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2000/658/oj. . The negotiations were successfully concluded on 17 January 2025. (2) The negotiations resulted in two parallel legal instruments. The first instrument is the Political, Economic and Cooperation Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the United Mexican States, of the other part, commonly referred to as the Modernised Global Agreement (the MGA), which includes the political dialogue and cooperation pillar and the trade and investment pillar, including investment protection provisions. The second instrument is the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the United Mexican States (the ITA), which covers trade and investment liberalisation. The ITA will cease to have effect and will be replaced by the MGA upon the entry into force of the latter. (3) The objective of the ITA is to foster increased and sustainable trade and investment between the Parties by expanding and diversifying their economic and trade relations and by creating new opportunities for workers and businesses alike, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, while contributing to the promotion of sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental dimensions. (4) Therefore, the ITA should be signed, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The signing of the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the United Mexican States is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of that Agreement The text of the ITA will be published together with the decision on its conclusion. .

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. Done at Brussels, 11 May 2026. For the Council The President K. Kallas