The Foreign Ministry of Paraguay – country with the pro tempore presidency of the Mercosur – reported that the ministry met with the Japanese Foreign Ministry with the aim of exchanging views on strengthening the bloc and Japan within the framework of a possible Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published that the V Meeting of the Dialogue to Strengthen the Economic Relationship between Mercosur and Japan at the headquarters of the Paraguayan portfolio. The meeting was headed by the Vice Minister of Economic Relations and Integration, Patricia Frutos and the general director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Yasushi Noguchi.
The objective of the meeting was the exchange of visions regarding the mutual strengthening in economic and commercial matters that the agreement between the bloc and the Asian country would represent. On the other hand, they highlighted the importance of deepening a work scheme that allows reaching the aspirations of both parties.
In addition, they highlighted the need to resume conversations within the framework of a dialogue that was resumed after seven years. Meanwhile, they agreed to “continue discussions to achieve substantial progress in their economic ties.”
Argentina’s bid
In mid-March, the Argentine Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, She was the protagonist of the first visit of the Argentine government of Milei in Tokyo, where she met with her Japanese counterpart, Yoko Kamikawa.
In dialogue with the Nikkei newspaper, the head of the portfolio assured that the Argentine government “hopes to be able to begin exploring a dialogue.”
In that sense, he pointed to the countries of the Mercosur that offer more resistance to the commercial opening of the block. “We need other countries to believe the same,” Mondino said, noting that FTA “they are the best option” to carry it out.
Looking at the Asian market
The chancellor of Paraguay, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, He was the one who confirmed in early March the start of talks with Japan in April. On the other hand, he also focused on commercial relations with China, after the FTA that he proposed Uruguay and about which the president Luis Lacalle Pou maintained that Brazil and Argentina They “blocked” a possible agreement. “He Mercosur seeks more agreements with other Asian countries,” said Ramírez, after the FTA with Singapore signed in December.
In this regard, the Chinese ambassador in Uruguay, Huang Yazhongadmitted that the possibility of reaching a collective agreement with the bloc would be better than doing it alone with the Uruguay and assured that “among friends we can coordinate and study how we can deal with this matter well.”
Source: Ambito
