The foreign ministers of the bloc stated in a joint statement after their meeting in Asunción on Wednesday that Mercosur will make efforts to complete the trade agreement with the European Union, which has been delayed, as quickly as they can.
“The foreign ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia expressed their commitment to prioritize the completion of outstanding negotiations with the European Union and promptly sign a fair agreement that benefits both parties.”
During a press conference, the foreign minister, Rubén Ramírez, stated that if we consider the interests of every country in Mercosur and the bloc as a whole, and come to a fair agreement, we can make progress.
Currently, Paraguay has taken on the temporary rotating presidency of the bloc that was established in 1991.
In the English language, the following paragraph can be paraphrased as: After two decades of intricate negotiations, the two groups proclaimed in 2019 that they had achieved a trade agreement without tariffs. However, the deal, which was backed by the German industrial sector but faced opposition from French farmers, is still awaiting final approval. The current disagreement revolves around the protection of the Amazon.
After Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva regained power in Brazil and pledged to combat deforestation, the tone has become more positive. However, the new environmental conditions set by the European Union have created tension among the nations in the southern bloc.
– TIMES/AFP
