Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou confirmed to journalists this Tuesday (24th) that negotiations with the Chinese for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are advanced.
“Mercosur is the fifth most protectionist region on the planet. Uruguay needs to open up to the world,” he said.
The Uruguayan president also declared that Mercosur will be “welcome” to participate in the negotiations and that he disagrees with the idea of dismantling the bloc in case of an agreement with the Chinese.
The idea worries Mercosur members who allege a risk of weakening the bloc. Brazilian Chancellor Mauro Vieira recently said in an interview that the agreement between Uruguay and China would put the survival of the group in check.
This should be the subject discussed between Lacalle and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on a visit by the Brazilian entourage to the country. The PT and the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, will seek to dissuade Lacalle from the idea.
Source: CNN Brasil
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