EU, Mexico seek trade deal by early 2018

Brussels (dpa) - Mexico and the European Union hope to conclude a free trade deal in early 2018 after settling some final outstanding issues, the negotiators from both sides said following talks in Brussels.In September, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had expressed hope that trade talks with Mexico could be wrapped up this year.But there was still "some homework to do over Christmas," EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said Thursday."We are very close, very near to reaching our objectives," added Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo.The talks have been running in parallel to a renegotiation of the free trade deal between Mexico, the United States and Canada, after US President Donald Trump complained that the pact disadvantaged the US economy.He has also vowed to build a wall between Mexico and the US to halt illegal immigration and smuggling."[The] EUlsquo;s trade policy is very much about building bridges, not walls," Malmstrom said Thursday, noting that the trade deal with Mexico was also "a way to tie our citizens closer together and to confirm our shared values."At present, trade relations between Mexico and the EU are governed by a 17-year-old agreement that both sides consider to be outdated and too limited in scope.The EU is one of Mexicolsquo;s most important trading partners, with overall imports and exports worth around 62 billion dollars annually.