Mercosur, EU chancellors meet in Brazil

The two blocs have been negotiating a comprehensive deal since 1999

Agência Brasil

Published on 06/12/2018 - 16:05

Brasília

Foreign Ministers from Mercosur country members—Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela (suspended)—are meeting in Brasília today (Dec. 6) to advance the association agreement with the European Union (EU).

The chancellors are expected to discuss the result of the talks from November in Brussels, and dispel any doubts following the statements made by French President Emmanuel Macron. He said strides could only be made between the two blocs if Brazil’s President-Elect Jair Bolsonaro decides not to leave the Paris Agreement, which outlines measures to curb global warming.

France does not favor the signing of trade deals with countries opposing the Paris Agreement, Macron said.

Obstacles

Mercosur and the EU have been negotiating a comprehensive association agreement including free trade since 1999. The talks were brought to a standstill and made no progress from 2004 to 2010. Debates were not resumed until 2016.

Disagreement persists on issues regarding the car industry and the access to the markets of beef, sugar, and dairy.