Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay pledged this Friday to “continue the modernization” of Mercosur and to advance in the revision of the common external tariff, without the accession of Uruguay, in a virtual summit amid tensions in the bloc.
In a joint statement issued at the end of the meeting of less than two hours, the governments of Argentina, Brazil Y Paraguay they indicated that “they are committed to continuing the modernization of Mercosur by strengthening free trade and regulatory convergence and harmonization within the bloc ”.
Uruguay, which opposed the review of the tariff following an agreement between Argentina and Brazil in October, did not sign the statement at the end of the meeting, confirmed a source from Itamaraty.
Montevideo conditions its support for this tariff reduction on the liberalization of bilateral negotiations with third countries, while trying to advance in a free trade agreement with China.
In September, the president Luis Lacalle Pou announced the start of talks with the Asian giant, ignoring a 2000 decision of the Mercosur by which the partners must have the consent of their counterparts to seal negotiations with third countries.
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