Third round of talks on DCFTA starts Sept.11

The third round of negotiations on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the European Union will start next Tuesday, September 11, in Chisinau and will last until September 14, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Moldovan Ministry of Economy said the negotiating sides – headed by Deputy Economy Minister Octavian Calmic on behalf of Moldova, and Luc Devigne, representative of the European Commission's Trade Department, on behalf of the EU – will continue to fine-tune the legal content of the Agreement, with the main topic being the tariff offer on the access to the goods market. The first round on negotiations took place during March 20-22 in Chisinau, followed by a second one in Brussels during June 11-15. The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Moldova and the European Union implies a gradual liberalization of trade in goods and services, free movement of labor force, lower customs duties, removal of technical and non-tariff barriers, annulment of quotas, and harmonization of Moldova's legislation with the EU acquis. The DCFTA will replace the current unilateral Autonomous Trade Preferences granted by the EU to Moldova.