EU - Mexico Interim Trade Agreement (2025)
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4.    A Party shall permit the use of identification lot codes provided that those codes are preserved from deletion.

5.    A Party shall not apply a labelling measure to wine products and spirits that were marketed in the territory of that Party prior to the date on which the measure entered into force, except under exceptional circumstances.

6.    A Party shall permit the use of drawings, figures, illustrations and claims or legends on bottles provided that they do not replace mandatory labelling information and do not mislead the consumer as to the real characteristics and composition of the wines products and spirits.

7.    A Party shall not require that labels of wine products or spirits display allergen labelling with regard to allergens which have been used in the production and preparation of the wine products or spirit and which are not present in the final product.

8.    For trade in wine between the Parties, wine originating in the European Union may be labelled in Mexico with an indication of the product type as specified in Part C of Annex 2-E.

9.    Each Party shall protect the following names with regard to wine products and spirits, in conformity with the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, done at Paris on 20 March 1883 (hereinafter referred to as "the Paris Convention"):

(a)    the name of a Member State; and

(b)    the name of the United Mexican States or Mexico and its States.

10.    A Party shall permit labels of wine products or spirits to express the alcoholic content by volume in the following acronyms:

(a)    % Alc. Vol.

(b)    % Alc Vol.

(c)    % alc. vol.

(d)    % alc vol.

(e)    % Alc.

(f)    % Alc./Vol.

(g)    Alc( )%vol.

(h)    % alc/vol

(i)    alc( )%vol

ARTICLE 2.24

Certification of Wine Products and Spirits

1.    A Party may require, for wine products imported from the other Party and placed on its market, only the documentation and certification set out in Part D of Annex 2-E.

2.    A Party shall not submit the import of wine products produced in the territory of the other Party to more restrictive import certification requirements than those laid down in this Agreement.

3.    Each Party may apply its laws and regulations in order to identify adulterated or contaminated products after their final importation.

4.    In case of a dispute, each Party shall recognise as reference methods, the methods of analysis complying with the standards recommended by international organisations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or, in case those methods do not exist, the methods of the OIV.

5.    Each Party shall authorise the importation in its territory of spirits in accordance with the rules governing import documentation or certification and analysis reports as provided for in its laws and regulations.

6.    The European Union shall require for the importation of Tequila and Mezcal into the European Union the presentation to its customs authorities of an export authenticity certificate of those products issued by the conformity assessment bodies accredited and approved by the Mexican authorities. 12 Mexico shall provide models of the export authenticity certificate of Tequila and Mezcal and notify any changes related to those certificates to the Sub-Committee on Trade in Wines and Spirits.

7.    A Party may introduce temporary additional import certification requirements for wines products and spirits imported from the other Party in response to legitimate public policy concerns, such as health or consumer protection, or in order to act against fraud. In such case, the Party shall provide to the other Party adequate information and sufficient time to permit the fulfilment of the additional requirements.

Such requirements shall not extend beyond the period of time necessary to respond to the particular public policy concern or risk of fraud in response to which they were introduced.

8.    The Trade Council may modify Part D of Annex 2-E with regard to the documentation and certification referred to in paragraph 1.

ARTICLE 2.25

Applicable Rules

Unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement, importation and marketing of products covered by this Section, traded between the Parties, shall be conducted in compliance with the laws and regulations applying in the territory of the Party of importation.

ARTICLE 2.26

Transitional Measures

Products which, at the date of entry into force of this Agreement, have been produced and labelled in accordance with the laws and regulations of a Party and the existing agreements between the Parties, but do not comply with this Section may be marketed in the importing Party under the following conditions:

(a)    by wholesalers or producers, for a period of two years; or

(b)    by retailers, until stocks are exhausted.

ARTICLE 2.27

Notifications

Each Party shall ensure timely notification to the other Party of any amendments to laws and regulations on matters covered by this Section that have an impact on products traded between them.

ARTICLE 2.28

Cooperation on Trade in Wines and Spirits

1.    The Parties shall cooperate on and address matters related to trade in wines and spirits, in particular:

(a)    product definitions, certification and labelling; and

(b)    the use of grape varieties in winemaking and labelling thereof.

2.    To facilitate mutual assistance between the enforcement authorities of the Parties, each Party shall designate the competent authorities and bodies responsible for the implementation and application of matters covered by this Section. If a Party designates more than one competent authority or body, it shall ensure coordination between those authorities and bodies. In that case, a Party shall also designate a single liaison authority that should serve as the single contact point for the authority or body of the other Party.

3.    The Parties shall inform each other of the names and addresses of the competent authorities and bodies referred to in paragraph 2, and any changes thereto, no later than six months after the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

4.    The authorities and bodies referred to in this Article shall closely cooperate and seek ways for further improving assistance with each other in the application of this Section, in particular in order to combat fraudulent practices.

ARTICLE 2.29

Sub-Committee on Trade in Wines and Spirits

1.    The Sub-Committee on Trade in Wines and Spirits established by Article 33.4.1(c) (Sub‑Committees and Other Bodies) shall:

(a)    monitor the implementation and administration of this Section;

(b)    provide a forum for cooperation on matters relating to this Section and exchange of information; and

(c)    ensure the proper functioning of this Section.

2.    The Sub-Committee on Trade in Wines and Spirits may make recommendations and prepare decisions for the Trade Council which may be adopted as provided for in this Section.

SECTION D

Non-Tariff Market Access Commitments for Other Sectors

ARTICLE 2.30

Pharmaceuticals

Specific non-tariff market access commitments of each Party relating to pharmaceutical products and medical devices are set out in Annex 2-F.

ARTICLE 2.31

Motor Vehicles

Specific non-market access commitments of each Party relating to motor vehicles and equipment, and parts thereof, are set out in Annex 2-G.

Chapter 3. RULES OF ORIGIN AND ORIGIN PROCEDURES

SECTION A

Rules of Origin

ARTICLE 3.1

Definitions

1.    For the purposes of this Chapter:

(a)    "chapters", "headings" and "subheadings" means the chapters (two-digit codes), the headings (four-digit codes) and sub-headings (six-digit codes) used in the nomenclature of the Harmonized System;

(b)    "competent governmental authority" means in the case of Mexico, the designated authority within the Ministry of Economy (Secretaría de Economía), or its successor;

(c)    "consignment" means goods which are either sent simultaneously from one exporter to one consignee or covered by a single transport document covering their shipment from the exporter to the consignee or, in the absence of such a document, by a single invoice;

(d)    "customs authorities" means the governmental authority that is responsible under the law of a Party for the administration, application and enforcement of customs laws and regulations;

(e)    "exporter" means a person located in the territory of a Party who exports from the territory of that Party and makes out a statement on origin;

(f)    "importer" means a person located in the territory of a Party who imports a good and claims preferential tariff treatment;

(g)    "material" means any ingredient, raw material, component, part, or the like, used in the production of the product;

(h)    "non-originating materials" means materials which do not qualify as originating under this Chapter;

(i)    "originating materials" or "originating products" means materials or products which qualify as originating under this Chapter;

(j)    "product" means the product being manufactured, even if it is intended as a material for later use in the production of another product; and

(k)    "production" means any kind of working, processing or specific operations, including assembly.

ARTICLE 3.2

General Requirements

1.    For the purposes of applying the preferential tariff treatment by a Party to the originating good of the other Party in accordance with this Agreement, the following products shall be considered as originating in the Party where the last production took place:

(a)    products wholly obtained in that Party within the meaning of Article 3.4;

(b)    products produced in that Party exclusively from originating materials; or

(c)    products produced in that Party incorporating non-originating materials, provided they fulfil the conditions set out in Annex 3-A.

2.    A product considered as originating in a Party in accordance with paragraph 1 has to meet all other applicable requirements of this Chapter for granting preferential tariff treatment based on a claim pursuant to Article 3.16.

3.    If a product has acquired originating status, the non-originating materials used in the production of that product shall not be considered non-originating when that product is incorporated as a material in another product.

4.    For the acquisition of the originating status, the product has to be produced as referred to in subparagraphs 1(a) to 1(c) without interruption in a Party.

ARTICLE 3.3

Cumulation of Origin

1.    A product originating in a Party shall be considered as an originating product of the other Party if it is used as a material in the production of another product in that other Party 13 .

2.    Paragraph 1 does not apply if:

(a)    the production of a product does not go beyond the operations referred to in Article 3.6; and

(b)    the object of this production, as demonstrated on the basis of a preponderance of evidence, is to circumvent financial or tax law of the Parties.

ARTICLE 3.4

Wholly Obtained Products

1.    The following products shall be considered as wholly obtained in a Party:

(a)    mineral products extracted from its soil or from its seabed;

(b)    plants and vegetable products grown or harvested there;

(c)    live animals born and raised there;

(d)    products from live animals raised there;

(e)    products obtained from slaughtered animals born and raised there;

(f)    products obtained by hunting or fishing conducted there;

(g)    products obtained from aquaculture there, if aquatic organisms, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans, other aquatic invertebrates and aquatic plants are born or raised from seed stock such as eggs, roes, fry, fingerlings or larvae, by intervention in the rearing or growth processes to enhance production such as regular stocking, feeding or protection from predators;

(h)    products of sea fishing and other products taken from the sea outside any territorial sea by a vessel of a Party;

(i)    products produced on board of a factory ship of a Party exclusively from products referred to in subparagraph (h);

(j)    used articles collected there fit only for the recovery of raw materials, including those raw materials;

(k)    waste and scrap resulting from production operations conducted there;

(l)    products extracted from the seabed or subsoil thereof outside the territorial sea of a Party, provided that they have rights to exploit or work such seabed or subsoil; or

(m)    goods produced there exclusively from the products specified in subparagraphs (a) to (l).

2.    The terms "vessel of a Party" and "factory ship of a Party" in subparagraph 1(h) and 1(i) mean a vessel or a factory ship which:

(a)    is registered in a Member State or in Mexico;

(b)    sails under the flag of a Member State or Mexico; and

(c)    meets one of the following conditions:

(i)    it is at least 50 % owned by nationals of a Member State or Mexico; or

(ii)    it is owned by enterprises which:

(A)    have their head office and main place of business in the European Union or Mexico; and

(B)    are at least 50 % owned by public entities, nationals or enterprises of a Member State or Mexico.

ARTICLE 3.5

Tolerances

1.    If a product does not satisfy the requirements set out in Annex 3-A due to the use of a non-originating material in the production, that product shall nevertheless be considered as originating in a Party provided that:

(a)    the total value of that non-originating material does not exceed 10 % of the ex-works price of the product; and

(b)    any of the percentages set out in Annex 3-A for the maximum value or weight of non-originating materials are not exceeded through the application of this paragraph.

2.    Paragraph 1 does not apply to products classified under Chapters 50 to 63, for which the tolerances set out in Notes 5 and 6 of Section A of Annex 3-A apply.

3.    Paragraph 1 does not apply to products wholly obtained in a Party within the meaning of Article 3.4. If Annex 3-A requires that the materials used in the production of a product are wholly obtained, the tolerance provided for in paragraph 1 applies to the sum of those materials.

ARTICLE 3.6

Insufficient Working or Processing Operations

1.    Notwithstanding Article 3.2.1(c), a product shall not be considered as originating in a Party if the production of the product in a Party consists only of the following operations performed on non‑originating materials:

(a)    operations to ensure the preservation of products in good condition during transport and storage such as ventilation, spreading out, drying, freezing, chilling, placing in salt, sulphur dioxide or other aqueous solutions, removal of damaged parts, and like operations;

(b)    simple addition of water or dilution that does not materially alter the characteristics of the product or dehydration or denaturation 14 of products;

(c)    sifting, screening, sorting, classifying, grading or matching, including the making-up of sets of articles;

(d)    sharpening, simple grinding or simple cutting;

(e)    peeling, stoning or shelling of fruits, nuts or vegetables;

(f)    husking;

(g)    removing of grains;

(h)    polishing or glazing of cereals and rice, partial or total milling of rice;

(i)    operations to colour or flavour sugar or form sugar lumps; partial or total milling of crystal sugar;

(j)    changes of packaging, breaking up and assembly of packages;

(k)    simple packaging operations;

(l)    affixing or printing marks, labels, logos and other like distinguishing signs on products or their packaging;

(m)    washing, cleaning, the removal of dust, oxide, oil, paint or other coverings;

(n)    simple painting and polishing operations;

(o)    simple mixing of products 15 , whether or not of different kinds; 16

(p)    assembly of parts classified as complete or finished article in accordance with General Interpretative Rule 2(a) of the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Harmonized System or other simple assembly of parts;

(q)    disassembly of a product into parts or components;

(r)    ironing or pressing of textiles and textile articles;

(s)    slaughter of animals; or

(t)    a combination of two or more operations specified in subparagraphs (a) to (s).

2.    For the purposes of paragraph 1, operations shall be considered simple if neither special skills nor machines, apparatus or tools especially produced or installed for those operations are required for their performance and the operations resulting from those skills, machines, apparatus or tools do not confer the essential character or properties of the good.

  • Chapter   1 GENERAL PROVISIONS 1
  • Chapter   2 TRADE IN GOODS 1
  • Chapter   3 RULES OF ORIGIN AND ORIGIN PROCEDURES 3
  • Chapter   4 CUSTOMS AND TRADE FACILITATION 5
  • Chapter   5 TRADE REMEDIES 6
  • Chapter   6 SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 7
  • Chapter   7 COOPERATION ON ANIMAL WELFARE AND ANTI-MICROBIAL RESISTANCE 8
  • Chapter   8 RECOGNITION OF THE PARTIES' RIGHT TO REGULATE THE ENERGY SECTOR 8
  • Chapter   9 TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE 8
  • Chapter   10 INVESTMENT LIBERALISATION 10
  • Article   10.1 Definitions 10
  • Article   10.2 Scope 10
  • Article   10.3 Right to Regulate 10
  • Article   10.4 Relation to other Chapters 10
  • Article   10.5 Scope 10
  • Article   10.6 Market Access 10
  • Article   10.7 National Treatment 10
  • Article   10.8 Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment 10
  • Article   10.9 Performance Requirements 10
  • Article   10.10 Senior Management and Board of Directors 10
  • Article   10.11 Formal Requirements 10
  • Article   10.12 Non-Conforming Measures and Exceptions 10
  • Article   10.13 Denial of Benefits 10
  • Article   10.14 Sub-Committee on Services and Investment 10
  • Chapter   11 CROSS-BORDER TRADE IN SERVICES 10
  • Chapter   12 TEMPORARY PRESENCE OF NATURAL PERSONS FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES 11
  • Chapter   13 DOMESTIC REGULATION 11
  • Chapter   14 MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS 12
  • Chapter   15 DELIVERY SERVICES 12
  • Chapter   16 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES 12
  • Chapter   17 INTERNATIONAL MARITIME TRANSPORT SERVICES 13
  • Chapter   18 FINANCIAL SERVICES 13
  • Chapter   19 DIGITAL TRADE 14
  • Chapter   20 CAPITAL MOVEMENTS, PAYMENTS AND TRANSFERSAND TEMPORARY SAFEGUARD MEASURES 15
  • Chapter   21 PUBLIC PROCUREMENT 15
  • Chapter   22 STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES, ENTERPRISES GRANTED SPECIAL RIGHTS ORPRIVILEGES AND DESIGNATED MONOPOLIES 18
  • Chapter   23 COMPETITION POLICY 19
  • Chapter   24 SUBSIDIES 19
  • Chapter   25 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 19
  • Chapter   26 TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 22
  • Chapter   27 TRANSPARENCY 23
  • Article   28 GOOD REGULATORY PRACTICES 23
  • Chapter   29 SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES 24
  • Chapter   30 RAW MATERIALS 24
  • Chapter   31 DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 25
  • Chapter   32 EXCEPTIONS 26
  • Chapter   33 INSTITUTIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS 27