The Chancellor of the Republic, Francisco Bustillo, spoke this Wednesday 20 at the Ordinary Meeting of the Mercosur Common Market Council (CMC), in Asunción, Paraguay. In his intervention, he highlighted the need to modernize the internal functioning and the external relations of the bloc. In addition, he welcomed the successful completion of negotiations with Singapore to establish a free trade agreement.
The session of States party to Mercosur was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay, Julio César Arriola; The bloc’s foreign ministers and economy ministers, national coordinators, ambassadors, technical delegations and special guests participated.
Bustillo, accompanied by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Azucena Arbeleche, recognized the presidency pro tempore of Paraguay for making a face-to-face meeting possible, after the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the occasion, he spoke about the need to work in a modernizing and realistic sense, with a broad vision to carry out levels of pragmatism and to be able to explore alternatives at the internal and external levels of Mercosur.
He argued that our country tried, at least five times, to give a new impetus to the bloc through programs and processes. “Uruguay states that for 31 years we have been in a permanent transition towards the common market,” he reiterated.
The foreign minister explained that the country cannot assume the cost of a high common external tariff in the world, unless real benefits are obtained in two vital issues: consolidated and unrestricted access to the expanded market and greater interference in negotiations with third parties. State.
“Our block cannot add insecurities, but must affirm certainties that translate into trust between commercial operators. We must advance in a realistic and pragmatic integration process”, he remarked.
Bustillo stated that the Uruguayan State considers that the opening up and modernization of the bloc in terms of foreign relations cannot be postponed, in order to achieve a better integration of its parts.
In this framework, he celebrated the culmination of negotiations between Mercosur and Singapore to establish a state-of-the-art free trade agreement. “It is a clear sign that Mercosur must decisively promote its foreign agenda, and thus improve its access to foreign markets,” he said.
The Secretary of State also argued that the regional bloc must consolidate an ambitious foreign agenda, which allows it to negotiate agreements with relevant players in international trade.
He also stated that Uruguay maintains the power to negotiate trade agreements with third countries or extrazone blocs and maintains a firm commitment to the regional integration process.
He added that in this context the country maintains, in a framework of absolute seriousness and conviction, exchanges with the People’s Republic of China, with a view to reaching a free trade agreement.
Regarding this negotiation, he certified transparency and exemplified by mentioning that, since its inception, all the founding partners knew what Uruguay’s intention was.
“We will continue promoting this frank dialogue with all of you, whether it is with this negotiation with China, as well as with other countries,” insisted Bustillo.
The chancellor revealed that in the next presidency pro tempore of Uruguay, efforts will be made to achieve the modernization of the internal functioning and the external relations of the bloc. In addition, he reaffirmed Uruguay’s membership and genuine commitment to Mercosur.
