Mercosur must open to ‘agreements with other countries’, says Argentine chancellor

RADIO HRN

São Paulo.-A free trade agreement between China and Mercosur “would be good for all of us,” said Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino in Sao Paulo, advocating for a “modernization” of the bloc, after new difficulties in concluding an agreement with the European Union. .

Mondino indicated the position of the government of ultra-liberal Javier Milei “in favor” of advancing an agreement of the South American bloc with the Asian giant, in an interview with international media, including AFP, at the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo (Fiesp ).

In addition, he said that Mercosur must establish “agreements with other countries” or blocks.

The chancellor highlighted the finalized agreement of the bloc with Singapore, which is being negotiated with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), one underway with the United Arab Emirates, and others in the future with Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). .

Brazil and Argentina, founders of Mercosur, which also includes Uruguay and Paraguay, are working to “aggiornar” (update) the 32-year-old bloc, Mondino said.

However, the chancellor recognized differences in the partners’ times to advance new agreements.

With China, the second global economy, “Uruguay, which is a small economy, would not have to give much,” a position close to that of Paraguay, he explained.

Montevideo pushed hard to move forward with the negotiations, and even began bilateral talks, which caused tensions within the bloc.

For its part, Brazil would have more to lose and, therefore, would seek to advance “with more pause” to evaluate the true advantages. Like Argentina, they have “larger industries and try to take care of local production,” Mondino said.

The push for new agreements occurs amid difficulties in concluding the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, which has been negotiated for more than two decades and became entangled again in recent months.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, described it as “terrible” on a recent visit to Brazil, before the same business forum that Mondino visited this Tuesday.

Despite this, the agreement, which “is not a panacea,” said Mondino, “has continued to advance.”

The chancellor stated that the European Parliament elections next June delayed the negotiations. But once passed, “I see no reason to delay it.”

On Monday, Mondino made an official visit to Brasilia, where he met his counterpart Mauro Vieira.La Razón.