This Monday, the European Commission guaranteed “intense work” for a trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), at a time of fear due to the opposition of the ultra-liberal Javier Milei, winner of the elections. Argentine presidential elections.
“We look forward to today’s Board of Trade meeting. […] We will discuss the situation of the ongoing trade negotiations and, in addition, […] We will continue working intensively towards an agreement with Mercosur,” said the Executive Vice President of the European Commission in charge of Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis.
The official made these statements upon his arrival at the meeting of EU Trade Ministers in Brussels, in which Portugal is represented by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Francisco André.
The meeting takes place days after Javier Milei won the Argentine presidential elections a week ago.
Javier Milei, ultra-liberal candidate, defeated the Peronist Sergio Massa in the second round of the presidential elections that took place on Sunday in Argentina.
Milei has been defending controversial positions, such as Argentina’s exit from Mercosur, which he classified as a “poor quality customs union, which generates trade distortions and harms its members.”
At the same time, he has criticized this bloc’s trade agreement with the EU, which he describes as unfavorable.
The EU and Mercosur have maintained regular contacts to be able to conclude negotiations, particularly on issues such as environmental commitments, after a first approval in 2019, which had no follow-up.
The discussions have evolved a lot in the last two months, leading to the expectation of both blocs to conclude the agreement at the Mercosur presidents’ summit, scheduled for December 7 in Rio de Janeiro.
The next Argentine president, who will succeed the Peronist Alberto Fernández (2019-2023), will govern from December 10 for the period 2023-2027.
The EU-Mercosur agreement covers the 27 EU Member States plus Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, which is equivalent to 25% of the global economy and 780 million people, almost 10% of the world’s population.
Milei is close to Jair Bolsonaro, predecessor of the current Brazilian head of state, Lula da Silva, as well as a declared admirer of former North American president Donald Trump.
He defines himself as an “anarcho-capitalist”, an extreme form of liberalism that advocates a capitalist society without a state.
Source: TSF
