Europe and US sign trade pact

The European Union and the United States have ended a long argument about product standards, and have signed an agreement that could cut years off the time it takes for large categories of goods to be marketed on either side of the Atlantic.

The Mutual Recognition Agreement, to be initialled this week, applies to medical products, pharmaceuticals, electrical goods and telecommunications equipment, and it means that tests conducted by one side will be accepted by the other, eliminating the need for repeat testing. There is still no agreement, however, on standards in the vexed areas of meat and other agricultural products.

Mary Dejevsky - Washington