China and Uruguay indicated their willingness to “promote dialogue on free trade between the Mercosur and China” and Luis Lacalle Pou stated this Thursday in Beijing that will propose a meeting with the Asian giant at the next summit of the bloc’s countries.
The street Pou traveled to Beijing to strengthen diplomatic ties with a view to signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and strengthen the main commercial relationship for the Uruguay. But any agreement depends on the other partners of the Mercosur, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.
“Both parties are willing to promote dialogue on free trade between Mercosur and China“, indicated the two countries in a joint statement released by the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry after a meeting between The street Pou and the Chinese Prime Minister, Li Qiang.
The Uruguayan president said in a press conference that his country is going to “propose that the meeting of the Mercosur and China” at the bloc’s next summit on December 7 in Rio de Janeiro, under the presidency of Brazil. “We are going to do it formally,” he said. The street Pouwhose government launched trade negotiations with China and defended in Beijing that he wants to “accelerate the partnership” between the two countries.
In the joint statement, both parties welcomed the completion of the joint feasibility study of an FTA between China and Uruguay and reaffirmed “their willingness to promote the construction of a free trade association.”
Following a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Uruguayan president on Wednesday in Beijing, both countries agreed to enhance their ties to establish a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” “We have talked, spoken, warned, invited different countries to embark on this new goal of an FTA,” he said. The street Pou to the press.
Uruguay’s position faces a 2000 Mercosur agreement that establishes that any negotiation with third countries must have the endorsement of the rest of the partners. Brazil has strengthened its ties with China since Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva returned to the presidency in January 2023. Meanwhile, the elected president of Argentina, Javier Milei, threatened during the campaign to cut off trade relations with China and Paraguay maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
An FTA with China “it is not optional”
China In 2022, it will concentrate 28% of Uruguayan goods exports, worth $3,675 million, according to the Uruguay XXI promotion agency. That’s why, The street Pou defended that an FTA with China “it is not optional.” “If all of Mercosur decided at the same time to embark on this, perhaps it would be much better,” he said.
Chinathe second largest global economy, is seeking to increase its influence in Latin America and has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure in the region. The street Pou He stated that Uruguay is going to “break the logic of protectionism,” first in the Latin American region and then “open up to the rest of the world.”
The Uruguayan president stated that his country wants to position itself as “a valid interlocutor” in the bloc of Mercosur and also in Latin America. “We want the CELAC meeting to take place next year [Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños] with China and Uruguay “He’s going to offer to host,” said the leader.
The street Pou He traveled accompanied by the chancellor Omar Paganini and the ministers of Economy and Finance, Arbeleche Lily; Industry, Energy and Mining, Elisa Facio; and Livestock Agriculture and Fishing, Fernando Mattos and by about 40 representatives of the private sector. During the tour, both countries signed more than 20 agreements in areas of trade and investment promotion.
Source: Ambito
