Paraguay blasts Mercosur and Argentina and calls to follow ‘Chile’s example’
Paraguay’s industrial union, UIP, lashed at Mercosur over the incorporation of Venezuela as a full member and Argentina’s reiterated lack of respect for signed agreements and understandings.
Eduardo Felippo, head of UIP, read a statement to the industrial lobby members at an end of the year event which also included President Federico Franco and several of his cabinet ministers.
Felippo said that in its twenty years of existence Mercosur has been unable to complete any serious integration process and has also been unable to reach a trade agreement with the European Union.
“And how in the world can we believe integration will be reached with the incorporation of countries such as Venezuela which is destroying its own production and manufacturing sectors”, added Felippo.
Regarding Argentina Felippo said “it does not respect signed agreements, it confiscates goods at its own pleasure and arrogance and to make things even worse the country is facing all kinds of demands the world over for not honouring debts”.
Felippo then in contract praised Chile: “they said NO to Mercosur” and accepted to become an associate member “while it was out in the world looking for new free trade agreements which it now enjoys in full effectiveness with 59 countries”.
“Because of this very intelligent and common sense decision Chile has access to the leading and most demanding markets of the world with a system of preferential tariffs” underlined Felippo and called on Paraguay to get closer and integrate with Chile by sharing production.
“The Chilean development way is the path for Paraguay, open economy, free markets and trade agreements with as many countries as possible; it’s time to get out of the straight-jacket Mercosur has represented for the country”, said Felippo.
Paraguay is currently suspended from Mercosur because of the removal of Fernando Lugo last June, following impeachment by the Senate supported by an overwhelming vote. However the regional block, as well as Unasur, described the action as “a rupture of the democratic process”.
Suggested Stories
-
May 23rd 2013
Cristina Fernandez administration limits overseas dollar extractions to a minimum
-
May 20th 2013
Brazil trapped by Argentina and Venezuela economic mismanagements
-
May 22nd 2013
Uruguay: Mujica on a most ambitious mission to China after investments for ports and railways
-
May 22nd 2013
Uruguay joins the women’s presidential club: Mujica flies to China and Astori to Colombia
35 comments Feed
Note: Comments do not reflect MercoPress’ opinions. They are the personal view of our users. We wish to keep this as open and unregulated as possible. However, rude or foul language, discriminative comments (based on ethnicity, religion, gender, nationality, sexual orientation or the sort), spamming or any other offensive or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated. Please report any inadequate posts to the editor. Comments must be in English. Thank you.
Good call Eduardo, you keep sayin' it like it is..............
That's generally how life works.
Mercosur is just another vehicle for argentinians to manipulate the good intentions of other people, into something quite evil that suits their purpose.
That'll give you all something to moan about.
If you cut out the rot early, you can save your self and others,
So why leave the CFK rot in there,
Cut it out and survive,
Leave it in and it will destroy you.
.
argentina has no honour something the world is finally seeing, thankfully.
oh the joy argentina has coming, all self inflicted too, you cant buy this kind of entertainment, priceless :)))
Felippo has been cutting and pasting my posts!
Elaine / Shed:
One big problem for Paraguay is that it is landlocked and effectively held hostage by Mercosur. Paraguay’s connection with a pragmatic trade group (and the Pacific) is through Bolivia, but now that route has been blocked too. I was saying on another post that only 1500km from the power hungry mines of Chile and Peru, there is a massive excess of cheap Paraguayan hydro power. It would be in the interest of Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Pachamama to join these dots.
PS Shed: that was an amazing leap @ 7, you totally lost me for a minute. Easy on the union. Now I don’t know if andy at 11 @ lol-ing at the lack of union in the UK or lack of union in Mercosur!
It is true what you say about Switzerland, but the Swiss have very high-tec manufacturing and financial industries. Paraguay is agrarian and exports the same products as Brazil and Argentina. Paraguay needs ocean ports to get their exports to market. The Swiss are sat right in the middle of their biggest market with neighbours who respect them and their right to exist - not Paraguay’s case.
Conq
Yes, but Paraguay would still need to have a workable deal with Bolivia to make transport to Arica feasible. With Bolivia soon to be in Mercosur, I don’t hold out hope or fair treatment for Paraguay. For Paraguay to survive outside of Mercosur, Bolivia is key. Unfortunately for Bolivia and Paraguay, Evo is taking them down the wrong road. Bolivia has free access to the Pacific and is stuffed full on minerals. Investment should be pouring in to the country.
yes, Paraguay´s problem is its geography and size, and with the actual state of Mercosur it only isolated Paraguay more. Maybe Paraguay could get an agreement with Bolivia and Peru via CAN. while Bolivia is politically closer to Mercosur, econommically it actually beneficies more with the CAN and Peru does too, including Paraguay there could help it out of isolation and Peru and Bolivia with more resources and trade. it could even get Paraguay closer to the Pacific Alliance if it wishes .
In this scenario either Mercosur gets more flexible or CAN and Mercosur merges. I dont think it will merge given CAN members already have trade agreements with other countries that could get affected by Mercosur´s tax policy and Uruguay already understood this situation given its arguments in favor of more oppenes and flexibility after Venezuela inclusion, it would even benefit more Ecuador and Bolivia in the long run, they can´t ignore geography.
That would leave Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela to decide what to do, more flexibility or more isolation from their neigbours. Argentina and Brazil could very well manage being more isolated and Venezuela with its petrol maybe, but Argentina and Brazil definitely need to get less protectinist between each other at least.
good luck with that old bean... should you ”win” anything just bear in mind that the Argentine Government will write it out of history, say it doesnt apply or you are a perfidious anglo.
¬_¬
Paraguay needs alternate routes to the sea. Bolivia for sure, and possibly Brazil via rail or dredged rivers. Colorado won't deal with Morales out of ideology, rather than being realistic and practical and trying to find some way to get Paraguayan products to the Pacific.
If Brazil and/or Bolivia start making money and creating jobs shipping to and from Paraguay, they will stand up to Argentina to protect their own profits.
Also, the vulture fund that holds the Argentina debt isn't the original debt holder AND is an Obama political opponent, which makes this easier for the WH.
And they just love Argentina: www.atfa.org/
Not that this has anything to with Paraguay but I don't think Argentina going bust right now would help the US economy, I doubt very much it's a benevolent act.
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/12/royal-navy-officer-jailed-russia
and what has this got to do with this article?
AFTA does not represent the USA. They are an organization of speculators using funds of quesationalbe origin that want to collect on the sweat of Argentines (and others). They operate from from nubulous offshore locations and do not pay US taxes. Their existence is largely unknown to the vast majority of Amricans and most of those that do, do not think very highly of them. The US Government wants to see them brought under control if not irradicated altogether.
Regarding Argentina Felippo said “it does not respect signed agreements, it confiscates goods at its own pleasure and arrogance and to make things even worse the country is facing all kinds of demands the world over for not honouring debts”.
what do you think about what Felippo said???
That's fine, if the others believe it's best for them to acquiesce to one-way trade that forces them to open their markets to the northerners but then sees their products detained, blocked, and turned back, or simply destroyed (after all the hard work to produce them) for “safety” reasons... it is clearly up to them to be hoodwinked in that fashion.
Argentina knows better than to trust those duplicitous, avaricious nations that have no real intention to be partners in increasing worldwide prosperity. Never were, and most certainly will not be now that they are sliding down the oily ramp of austerity and decline.
Whatever you were talking about what just nonsense, once you have considered the above.
Yes thats what I thought, the resemblance is uncanny
#15 Indeed, a sloppy title, I thought at least it would have meant Franco, not that he really speaks for Paraguay either given how he came to power...
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!