MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Closer ties between India and Mercosur

Mercosur members and India have scheduled a meeting in late January when a tariff preference agreement will be signed, said Marco Aurelio García, Brazilian presidential advisor for international relations.

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is expected January 25 in India as a special guest for the country's independence celebration and this "could be an excellent opportunity to finalize the agreement".

"Because of details the agreement was not signed during the last December Mercosur summit in Montevideo, Uruguay. But I believe it's technically finished, and that is why we expect it to be signed during President Lula's visit", added Mr. García.

If this effectively occurs, the Brazilian government will be inviting to join the official delegation the former Argentine president Eduardo Duhalde who currently is the acting president for international affairs of Mercosur.

Mercosur already has frame agreements with India and the Customs Union of South Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho) and expects to advance in the elaboration of product lists and rules.

Brazil, India and South Africa have lately been operating closely in international trade talks and are identified as the G 3 which is leading the struggle against farm subsidies in the framework of the World Trade Organization.