He Mercosur will deliberate tomorrow and Thursday in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro with more doubts than certainties about the signature of the dilated FTA (FTA) with the European Union (EU). The heads of state of the country will meet there. south american trade bloc, who will discuss the initialing of an agreement that until now has not received the full support of the European continent, given that Emmanuel Macron, President of France, He stated that he will not support the proposal.
Argentina, like France, is reluctant to sign the agreement because of the impact it could have on the local economy. This is what the chancellor expressed this day Santiago Cafiero, who described it as “very bad” because it “harms” the national industry and “limits exports” of the agricultural sectorand confirmed that Argentina “is not going to sign an agreement that increases asymmetries.”
The Chamber of Commerce and the UIA ask to sign the agreement with Europe
Within that framework, the CAC indicated in a release which “reaffirms the position expressed on more than one occasion, both individually and within the framework of the Council of Chambers of Commerce of Mercosur, regarding the convenience for the country to adhere to the agreement“.
Although the companies that bring together the entity “understand that the treaty in question may have points that do not fully satisfy the claims of our country,” they consider that “its positive aspects are significantly greater than its possible shortcomings, so its signature would result in a clear benefit for the national economy”.
Lastly, the entity of commerce urged the Government outgoing to “take into account the position of the incoming authorities, who have expressed themselves in favor of the country signing the aforementioned understanding.”
For its part, the UIA reiterated that the objective of the treaty is “enhance the assets of the regional bloc” For this reason, the entities that make up the Mercosur Industrial Council drafted the joint declaration addressed to the governments of the Mercosur member countries.
Furthermore, they wrote a document that calls for “rapidly strengthening Mercosur in the face of the new realities of the global economy, which have transformed production models and trade relations, is crucial for our strategic partnership.”
To finish, the Mercosur Industrial Council postulated five priorities to achieve the objectives proposed by the entity: first, implement the Mercosur trade facilitation agreement, followed by concluding the Mercosur-EU association agreement.
Thirdly, to meet the goals, the commercial and sustainability agenda of the country must be promoted. Mercosur, Fourthly, advance in matters of regulatory convergence and finally institutionalize a formal dialogue mechanism with the productive sector.
Meeting of Mercosur presidents: agreement with Singapore and debate on treaty with the EU
The rulers of the countries of the Mercosur meet on Thursday at Rio de Janeiroamidst strong resistance to finish the trade agreement with the European Union (EU), despite the initial objective of both groups to close it this year. In addition, they meet to sign a treaty with Singapore.
Brazil, pro tempore president of the South American bloc that completes Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, I expected to close even at the summit of River this free trade agreement that has been in negotiations for more than two decades and that would create the largest free trade Area of the planet.
Both parties have intensified talks in recent weeks, with “significant progress,” agreed the Brazilian president. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvaand the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenwhen meeting on Friday on the sidelines of COP28, in Dubai.
But in the last few days France showed its disagreement with the text, Argentina said that “the conditions are not met” for its conclusion and behind the scenes the actors held each other accountable.
During the summit, preceded on Wednesday by meetings of foreign and finance ministers, A trade agreement must be signed with Singapore, the first for Mercosur in 12 years, and the first with an Asian country.
But doubts also arise about the future functioning of the group founded in 1991 and the dynamics between Milei and Lula, who will not attend the Argentine’s inauguration, after the ultraliberal called him “communist” and “corrupt” during the campaign. .
Source: Ambito
