European Union and Mercosur officials criticized each other's trade proposals on Thursday, making an Oct. 31 deadline to create a transatlantic free trade area appear increasingly unrealistic. "I think that with this EU offer, it's going to be more difficult (to meet the deadline)," said Regis Arslanian, Brazil's chief negotiator for the trade talks. Brazil leads the South American bloc Mercosur, which also groups Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, Reuters revealed. Asked if Mercosur could improve its offer, he said: "On both sides it can improve ... The EU offer is terrible, it does not meet the basic conditions of Mercosur." Mercosur, a major agricultural producer, wants greater access to the EU's lucrative food market and wants rules liberalized to allow its professionals to work in the EU.

"Mercosur’s offer on malt is not more that a tariff preference of 20%, versus a complete liberalization in the previous offer. Let us recall that this new offer is actually made to unblock the negotiation of a free exchange agreement," EU authorities revealed.

01 October, 2004