Negotiations and agreements

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

Agreements being adopted or ratified

In some circumstances trade negotiations with a trade partner have been concluded, but have not been either signed or ratified yet. This means that although the negotiations have finished, no part of the agreement is in place yet.

Country (Region) Agreement pending Status
Argentina (Mercosur) Mercosur Association Agreement Negotiations concluded in June 2019
Benin (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Brazil (Mercosur) Mercosur Association Agreement Negotiations concluded in June 2019
Burkina Faso (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Burundi (EAC) Economic Partnership Agreement Has not signed or ratified agreement
Cabo Verde (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Gambia (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Guinea (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Guinea-Bisseau (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Haiti (CARIFORUM) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, but has not ratified agreement
Kenya (EAC) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed and ratified, provisional application when all EAC countries sign and ratify
Kyrgyz Republic (Central Asia) Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Awaiting signature from all parties
Liberia (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Mali (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Mauritania (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Niger (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Nigeria (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Has not signed or ratified agreement
Paraguay (Mercosur) Mercosur Association Agreement Negotiations concluded in June 2019
Rwanda (EAC) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, provisional application when all EAC countries sign and ratify
Senegal (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Sierra Leone (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Tanzania (EAC) Economic Partnership Agreement Has not signed or ratified agreement
Togo (West Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Signed, awaiting signature from all parties
Uganda (EAC) Economic Partnership Agreement Has not signed or ratified agreement
Uruguay (Mercosur) Mercosur Association Agreement Negotiations concluded in June 2019
Uzbekistan (Central Asia) Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Agreement initialled in July 2022; being prepared for signature

Agreements being negotiated

The EU has trade agreements in place with these countries/regions, but both sides are now negotiating an update.

Country (Region) New agreement being negotiated Status
Australia Australia Agreement Negotiations launched in 2018
China EU-China investment agreement Negotiations launched in 2013
India Free Trade Agreement, Investment Protection Agreement and Geographical Indications Agreement Negotiations started in 2007. They paused in 2013, before restarting in 2022.
Indonesia Free Trade Agreement Negotiations launched in 2016
Philippines Free Trade Agreement Negotiations launched in 2015
Singapore Digital Trade Agreement Negotiations launched in July 2023
Tajikistan (Central Asia) Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Negotiations launched in February 2023
Thailand Free Trade Agreement Negotiations started in 2013, paused in 2014, and resumed in 2023.

Agreements on hold

Country (Region) Agreement Status
Bahrain (GCC) Free Trade Agreement Negotiations started in 1990, suspended since 2008
Central African Republic (Central Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2003, paused until further notice in 2011
Chad (Central Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2003, paused until further notice in 2011
Congo (Central Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2003, paused until further notice in 2011
Djibouti (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2004, paused until further notice in 2011
Equatorial Guinea (Central Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2003, paused until further notice in 2011
Ethiopia (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2004, paused until further notice in 2011
Gabon (Central Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2003, paused until further notice in 2011
Kuwait (GCC) Free Trade Agreement Negotiations started in 1990, suspended since 2008
Malawi (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2004, paused until further notice in 2011
Malaysia Free Trade Agreement Negotiations started in 2010, paused since 2012
Myanmar Investment Protection Agreement Negotiations launched in 2015
Oman (GCC) Free Trade Agreement Negotiations started in 1990, suspended since 2008
Qatar (GCC) Free Trade Agreement Negotiations started in 1990, suspended since 2008
Republic Democratic of Congo (Central Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2003, paused until further notice in 2011
São Tomé & Principe (Central Africa) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2003, paused until further notice in 2011
Saudi Arabia (GCC) Free Trade Agreement Negotiations started in 1990, suspended since 2008
Somalia (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2004, paused until further notice in 2011
Sudan (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2004, paused until further notice in 2011
United Arab Emirates (GCC) Free Trade Agreement Negotiations started in 1990, suspended since 2008
Zambia (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations started in 2004, paused until further notice in 2011

Latest news

Today, the EU-Angola Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement (SIFA) has entered into force. This is the first-ever EU agreement on investment facilitation. It aims to stimulate foreign investments needed to achieve sustainable development goals.

Yesterday (27 August), the EU and China launched the first discussions under the new Cross-Border Data Flow Communication Mechanism.

Today, the fifth meeting of the Joint Committee established under the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) heard that bilateral trade and investment relations continue to expand and deepen.