EU-Kazakhstan partnership agreement does not imply free trade

Astana. May 12. Silkroadnews – New partnership agreement between Kazakhstan and the EU does not imply creation of a free trade area, as the head of Foreign Trade Department of Kazakh Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning, Aliya Alimbetova, informs.
“We have started our 6th round of negotiations today. We are considering the issues of economic cooperation within the framework of an economic unit. WE will also be considering trade issues. We will not be considering free trade area creation with the EU. It is simplification of trade procedures, especially when it comes to government purchases and intellectual property that we are considering. In other words, it is those common issues that have been ongoing with the EU ever since 1992”, she said at the briefing organised by the President’s Central Communication Service.
The sections on “Trade and Investment”, “Economic and Sustainable Development Cooperation” and “Financial Cooperation” are among those to be discussed during this round.
“Kazakhstan and the EU are equally interested in the new agreement. This signifies readiness of the parties for a conceptually new of relations created by a new legal basis and broadened cooperation with consideration of economic and geopolitical interests of Kazakhstan and the EU. The negotiations are to be commenced by the end of the year”, the Ministry notices.