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Future economy minister says Mercosur not a priority for Bolsonaro's Brazil

Tuesday, October 30th 2018 - 08:50 UTC
Full article 61 comments
Mercosur had become a “cognitive prison” impeding its members to unilaterally be involved in trade agreements with third countries or blocks, claimed Guedes.   Mercosur had become a “cognitive prison” impeding its members to unilaterally be involved in trade agreements with third countries or blocks, claimed Guedes.

Mercosur is not a priority, and Argentina is not a priority for the new government of Brazil, the priority is to trade with all the world. The strong statement came from Paulo Guedes, signaled as the next Finance minister of president elect Jair Bolsonaro's cabinet and a crucial player in that team since the newly elected leader has admitted a limited knowledge of economics.

In his first meeting with the media Guedes, a graduate from Chicago University and a successful private banker and funds manager, said that the immediate tasks were fiscal measures to balance the budget, opening the Brazilian economy and a massive privatization of state owned companies, which will begin the first day of 2019 when Bolsonaro takes office.

In this scenario Mercosur is not a priority, nor is Argentina, but Brazil will “not break any commercial relation” and insisted that Mercosur, the block made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay had become a “cognitive prison” impeding its members to unilaterally be involved in trade agreements with third countries or blocks.

“Our immediate task is to cut to zero the fiscal deficit”, which currently stands at over US$ 40billion, some eight points of GDP. Likewise the pensions' reform which the current government of president Temer was unsuccessful in having approved despite the fact Congress was highly discredited because of the Petrobras and Odebrecth corruption scandals. A systematic bribing of company officials and lawmakers to obtain the state managed oil company and public works contracts. Almost half of the current congress members have been in some way involved in these schemes, according to police investigations.

The other item to combat excessive spending is to privatize state-run companies, reforming the bureaucracy, cutting taxes and creating ten million new jobs, explained Guedes. Brazil currently has a 12% unemployment rate inherited from the previous administration of Dilma Rousseff and several years of recession and very slow growth recovery.

More specifically on Mercosur Guedes said it was a highly restrictive block, which had fallen prisoner of ideological alliances, which meant trading only with those members that had a similar political view. “Why should I only trade with Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela? No I'm going to trade with the whole world.”
 

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  • :o))

    REF: “Mercosur not a priority”:

    Is Brazil a priority?
    http://www.mediaplus.com.br/clicfolha2016/uploads/imagem_arquivo/465799_26042016.jpg

    Oct 30th, 2018 - 09:59 am +2
  • Jack Bauer

    At last....someone with a vision beyond the dysfunctional Mercosul, which has kept Brazil from negotiating trade agreements with countries that will be much better partners. While Mercosul will not be trashed, it just won't be Brazil's priority any longer ....excellent decision.

    The fact that Bolsonaro is no expert in Economics, is neither here nor there....that's exactly why there are 'ministers'....

    But for those who would criticize Bolsonaro because of it, then pls explain what Lula understood of economics back in 2002 ? other than the 'economics' of how to fill your pocket with other people's money...

    Oct 30th, 2018 - 10:06 pm +2
  • :o))

    So far, a president-elect but he is already talking about reducing the expenditure. Is it about:
    - Ending the waste of public funds? [GREAT!]
    - End of corruption? [a bit too much to swallow!!!]
    - Reduction in Public-Services [education, health, etc]?
    Worth Reading:
    https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/imagining-bolsonaro-brazil-181030133721227.html

    Oct 31st, 2018 - 10:27 am +2
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