The vice-president of the Republic and minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, said this Thursday (15) that the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU) should come into force in the second half of this year: “An agreement that, 25 years ago, was worked on, but never came to fruition. Finally, [será] signed on Saturday (17).”
“Once signed, the European Parliament approves its law and we, in Brazil, approve the law, internalizing the agreement. We hope that the law will be approved in the first half of the year and that the agreement will come into effect in the second half of the year. Then, it will come into force immediately.”
In an interview with radio stations during the program Good morning, Ministerproduced by Brazilian Communication Company (EBC), Alckmin assessed that the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union is the largest agreement between blocs in the world, involving 720 million people and a market worth US$22 trillion.
“There are five countries in Mercosur [Brasil Argentina, Paraguai, Uruguai e, agora, Bolívia]. And the European Union, with 27 of the richest countries in the world. That means commerce: let’s sell more to them. Zero the tariff, so you have free trade – but free trade with rules. We will also buy more of them.”
“Society wins by buying cheaper and better quality products. Foreign trade, today, is a job in the veins. There are certain companies that, if they don’t export, will close. The domestic market is not enough”, added the minister.
Alckmin also classified the agreement as an example for the world:
“At a time of political instability, of geopolitics with wars in several places, of exacerbated protectionism, you set an example that it is possible, through dialogue and negotiation, to strengthen multilateralism and have free trade.”
