Politics

Temer to attend Mercosur summit in Asunción

Closer ties with the Pacific Alliance are on the agenda

Agência Brasil

Published on 18/06/2018 - 11:38

Brasília

O presidente Michel Temer discursa na cerimônia de aprovação das metas da RenovaBio, no Palácio do Planalto. — © Valter Campanato/Agência Brasil

President Michel Temer is to travel Monday (Jun. 18) to Asunción, Paraguay, where he is expected to take part in a Mercosur summit. The meeting takes place twice a year.

Paraguay occupies the pro tempore chair of the economic bloc, also formed by Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, in addition to Venezuela—suspended from the group since 2016.

On the agenda are commercial topics and also negotiations with the European Union (EU) and the Pacific Alliance, as the summit will take place in Mexico on July 24. Plans include setting free trade as a priority again and the consolidation of Mercosur.

At this meeting, preparations will be made for outlining common rules on e-trade within the bloc, official sources said in Brazil Thursday (14). The digital agenda will also be brought to debate.

The presidents are likely to discuss strategies for forging closer ties with the Pacific Alliance, formed by Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico.

President Temer is expected back in Brasília today.