Uruguay’s FTA with China would put Mercosur at risk, says Vieira
Brazil will take over as interim president of Mercosur in late 2023, Vieira stressed
Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told the Folha de São Paulo that a possible free trade deal between Uruguay and China would jeopardize the future of the Common Market of South America (MERCOSUR). In Vieira’s view, such a move would go against the bloc’s integration policy.
“If you negotiate outside the Common External Tariff, you’re destroying the tariff. Destroying Mercosur is in no one’s interest,” Vieira said in July, when Uruguay’s government moved toward a bilateral treaty. The announcement that it had taken the first step provoked a strong reaction from the other three full Mercosur members.
“If they bargain for a different, lower tariff, the free circulation of (goods) means that what comes in cheaply in one country will also circulate in other countries,” Vieira pointed out.
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva is scheduled in Montevideo on Wednesday after attending the VII Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) in Buenos Aires. Brazil is rejoining the Forum after a long hiatus under former President Jair Bolsonaro.
“It’s not the same as when it was founded,” Vieira explained in 1991 of Mercosur’s future. ‘, the Brazilian minister told Folha.
“We need to discuss the present and future of Mercosur with Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay (…) and make the necessary adjustments in dialogue with businessmen from each country,” Vieira said. Terram Saturday.
Brazil will play a leading role in foreign relations this year. Vieira, who served as ambassador to Buenos Aires for his six years, explained, “The first major president will be the president of Mercosur later this year. Argentina is the current president.”
In an interview with Perfil, the Minister of Foreign Affairs added, “MERCOSUR is a fundamental and essential instrument in our relations with member states and regions.”
“President Lula has already said many times, we will only be strong with a strong Mercosur, we will be present in the world, which will unite us not only on the commercial front, but in all other spheres,” he added. .
“There is also the big challenge of the G20 presidency. It’s a huge operation,” he said.
