MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Brazil considers ‘absurd’ some of Mercosur limitations and points to Argentina
President Rousseff nevertheless underlined that dialogue is the instrument to overcome differences Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff said it was ‘absurd’ that in the context of Mercosur the free circulation of goods was non existent and expressed disappointment with Argentina’s obstacles, but nevertheless insisted dialogue was the only valid instrument to overcome trade differences.
“We defend norms relative to import licences to Mercosur, but we would prefer that these obstacles did not exist, however since the Argentine government is not in agreement we have to ask for more time”, said President Rousseff in an interview with a Porto Alegre radio which was released by the official news agency Agencia Brasil.
“We must express our deep disappointment with Argentina for its attitudes and obstacles to trade, and this is specific to the sale of a million pair of shoes to our neighbours”, added the Brazilian president.
Nevertheless the best attitude and the best instrument is dialogue because trade between Argentina and Brazil is a two lanes highway: “we win exporting shoes and they win selling us cars”.
But, “we are Brazil and we must look at all our neighbours, we have that responsibility. All countries must be aware on one issue: that we must act jointly, as an only market, instead of 200 million we are a market of 300 million consumers”.
Finally the Brazilian leader insisted it was essential to keep advancing to ensure the free circulation of goods in the regional bloc which means the expansion of consumer markets: integrating we become stronger”.
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Read all commentsBrazil with 200 million people, in a bid to gain access to another market of 100 million people, is sabotaging the benefits of a market of 500 million people, all because of 40 million people.
Oct 14th, 2013 - 06:33 am 0I don't understand Brazilian economics.
@1 This isn't Brazilian economics. It's Brazilian politics. What is incredible is that Brazil pays so much attention to argieland. As I see it, Brazil has painted itself into a corner. In the context of mercosur, Uruguay is irrelevant. A population of around 3 million is hardly significant. Venezuela and argieland are two sides of the same incompetent coin. And Brazil alienated Paraguay! There's “intelligence” for you. There's a very simple solution to mercosur's “problems”. Expel argieland. But that's more difficult now. Starting from the “principle” that all major decisions should be unanimous. That's gone now. You can't have a “unanimous” decision by 3/4 of those supposed to have a vote. Maybe 3/5 of those entitled to vote would be enough to get argieland suspended. Perhaps, after a while, argieland would get the idea and piss off permanently!
Oct 14th, 2013 - 09:21 am 0@2 If Brazil enters an FTA with the EU without the rest of Mercosur, then it is following the path of the Pacific Alliance; whereby as long as countries have a FTA with each other, they are free to sign whatever deals they wish with other countries.
Oct 14th, 2013 - 09:50 am 0The difference being that Pacific Alliance members are already integrating other things already; stock exchanges, embassies, educational qualifications.
Mercosur has been around for over 20 years and the Pacific Alliance has been around for less than two. When all the countries of South America eventually coalesce into a single market, it will more than likely be the Pacific Alliance that will be providing the foundations and not Mercosur. Mainly because the Pacific Alliance can actually agree with each other.
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