MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Brazil considers ‘absurd’ some of Mercosur limitations and points to Argentina
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. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesBrazil 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 - Link - Report abuse 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 - Link - Report abuse 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 - Link - Report abuse 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.
Dilma is talking on the small-scale (shoes) but speaking about the big scale; some things cannot be said out loud right now.
Oct 14th, 2013 - 10:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0The pressure is on with Argentina. Dilma might 'let Argentina go' - or at least indicate that she is willing to do this. At the same time she is about to engage with the EU for a FTZ, and this would certainly be followed by a US-Brasil agreement. Baby-steps towards Dohar.
The last thing Dilma wants is for Argentina's demise to drag Brasil into the car-crash. So she must make trade agreements to see Brasil through her neighbour's tragedy.
The trouble always was that Argentina thought not even tactically, she thought reactively. What was demanded has always been strategic thinking.
In a globalised world, strategic trade alliances are the ONLY game in town.
Strategic planning to be part of this big game were put on South America's table some twenty years ago - Mercosur was to be the vehicle to drag South America into the next century, working effectively with the trading giants of the world.
It was never going to be easy - the protocols of Mercosur's trading bloc arrangements never got off the ground; and no agreement - especially in today's world - could place Argentina at the head of the table without it serving its apprenticeship in world trading first. (Only in today's abortion of Mercosur could the head of a failed state - Chavez - take the seat of power at the head of the top table without serving time in the ranks!).
I still have hope that Dilma can disengage from Mercosur's chains to make things happen with Europe.
Once done, the scattered pieces of what remains of Mercosur can be drawn back together into an *economic* fold that already has the Europe agreement in place. This can be a 'take it or leave it' offer to the other Southern Cone/Mercosur states.
Brasil CAN stand alone; the 'Halo Effect' is sufficient to evolve some subsequent integrity in the S.W. Atlantic seaboard states' trade with the bigger world.
4 GeoffWard2
Oct 14th, 2013 - 11:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0Brazil is at a crossroads and needs to sort out which way the future lies. Is it “brotherly love for the rest of SA” or do what is correct for Brazil?
Bit of a no-brainer which is why the present tip toeing around Argentina is so distasteful and counterproductive with the E.U.
For better or worse, Argentina is on a course of its own making and is best left to suffer the fallout on its own.
Meanwhile Chile has signed another FTA, this time with Thailand, giving our exporters tariff-free access to a further 70 million souls, bringing the total to about 2 billion.
Oct 14th, 2013 - 12:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@3
Oct 14th, 2013 - 02:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“When all the countries of South America eventually coalesce into a single market”
@4
“Once done, the scattered pieces of what remains of Mercosur can be drawn back together into an *economic* fold that already has the Europe agreement in place.”
You people must have had restful sleep if you believe Argentina will be wheedled into free trade with Europe, or coaxed to return to the 1990s free trade within Mercosur, or shoved into the Pacific Alliance.
ARGENTINA WANTS NO TRADE WITH LOSERS THAT CANNOT COMPETE FAIRLY, and who pull all the tricks in the book (see agricultural products, bio-diesel, car exports, meat, etc, etc), to drive argentine families out of business and into starvation.
TTT #7
Oct 14th, 2013 - 03:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You will be left to find your own salvation if you can find no common trading ground with other countries.
All that you will be left with is ALBA, and as they fall by the wayside, themselves wanting sustenance from you that you need to keep your people alive, you will be a potentially rich country with your population starving in the streets.
Trade is always a compromise; without this you WILL starve.
I feel for you, and hope you can see beyond your misplaced pride.
@7 Puhleese, dopy Joe. Argieland has done anything “fairly” since its first fart. Shall we list a few? Send a pirate to claim British territory. Use a kraut to ask permission for a “commercial venture”, then use an unrecognised “state” to name him commandant so he can commit more piracy. Land a “penal colony”, consisting mostly of murderers and rapists, on British territory. Complain when it gets kicked off. Although every member should have been shot! Try to repudiate an all-encompassing treaty. Go along with Hitler to try to “claim” British territory. Invade, occupy and start a war. Fail to comply with UN Security Council resolutions. Commit war crimes. Fail to pay reparations. Issue bonds it has no intention of repaying. Breach international laws and the UN Charter. Refuse to comply with court judgements. Refuse to comply with IMF and WTO rules. Breach contracts and steal companies.
Oct 14th, 2013 - 03:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If an argie “family” is driven out of business and into starvation, did they bring it on themselves? Were they honest? Highly unlikely. No argie is honest. So QUIT WITH YOUR WHINING. Haven't noticed anything “honest” in argieland yet. Argieland needs to be DESTROYED. Then we can sort through the remains, find honesty and help it. After we've found the war criminals and executed them. There may only be 4 or 5 million left! Patagonia can be returned to the indigenous people. Argieland removed as a “threat”. Returned to its proper place. Insignificant!
@9
Oct 14th, 2013 - 03:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It does speak volumes about you Europeans when the people you just described above find you untrustworthy then!
@8
But at least we will starve on our feet, not on our knees.
@The Truth PaTroll , And I will say it again
Oct 14th, 2013 - 05:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0ARGENTINA ALWAYS THE FACKING VICTIM
@7 The Truth PaTroll
Oct 14th, 2013 - 05:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Most countries in SA will end up “coalescing into a single market”.
Although you are probably right Argentina will not be one of them.
You should have noticed by now that no one is trying to “wheedle” or “shove” Argentina into anything.
In fact no one is talking to Argentina about any kind of agreement whatsoever.
You are fast getting your isolationist wish, that moving blur in the window is the world going by.
Oh, and starving people, always end up on their knees, then they fall on the ground.
10TIT
Oct 14th, 2013 - 05:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“But at least we will starve on our feet, not on our knees.”
A bit of an egotist, aren't you?
Funny, your hollow defiance.
How many of 'your' Argentinians want you to speak for them, their families, their small children?
Toby, you are a selfish child. No thought or compassion for others - just your foolish vanity.
It will be natural and preferred that people can make their own lot better by learning to live and cooperate with others.
Who are you to decide they should all sacrifice themselves and their future?
Sorry that you are kidding yourself for the sake of a few crooked greedy amoral politicians.
But at least we will starve on our feet, not on our knees
Oct 14th, 2013 - 07:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0but what happens when you get tired, and fall to your knees,,.lol
But at least we will starve on our feet, not on our knees. He says from Canada
Oct 14th, 2013 - 08:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Please people spare me the pangs of conscience over “the people”. The people will not starve. Argentina can never starve. Food grows even in awful years.
Oct 15th, 2013 - 12:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0We may not have stupid Iphones, maybe, but there will be no mass starvation.
I am not for the politicians, I am against foreign subservience. If the politicians du jour further our distance from that fate, great.
16 Dumb TIT
Oct 15th, 2013 - 03:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0“Please people spare me the pangs of conscience over “the people”. The people will not starve. Argentina can never starve. Food grows even in awful years. ”
You are the one who said, “ we would rather starve... ”, dummy.
Of course, you have no compassion for millions living in extreme poverty, high infant mortality rates, and general misery.
You have shown repeatedly how entitled, self-centered, and disdainful you are, with every post you make.
Grow up you spoiled brat. Have you ever shown any responsibility?
Troy he speaks for the share fact that he craves attention that he never received from his parents. No one is that stupid to believe the things he types, unless of course he is so young and never traveled anywhere to know any better.
Oct 15th, 2013 - 09:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0EVERYTHING he types his government does the polar opposite.....it's comical.
@18 TTT has said that he does not support the Argentine government. He is just a loner with a massive chip on his shoulder. I am pretty sure he argues with his own reflection.
Oct 15th, 2013 - 10:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0He's certainly one angry and misguided kid with misdirected intellect.
Oct 15th, 2013 - 11:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0@10 I think you'll find that you'll starve in your usual position. Flat on your stupid faces! Mind you, we may not notice. We certainly won't care.
Oct 15th, 2013 - 08:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@16 I have no “pangs” over your people. They are getting what they voted for. But, on the subject of food, perhaps you could explain about: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2012/12/22/supermarket-looting-dead-argentina/1786303/
I trust that you understand that carrying off electronics to sell later is easier than trying to steal the actual food.
Then there's: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2012/12/22/supermarket-looting-dead-argentina/1786303/
Do you think that a price freeze and a low-cost credit card are indicators of cheap available food? Do you have your own little farm? Do you have to sit up nights to make sure no-one digs it up? Have you got animals? What do you go for? Meat, milk or wool? Your name's not Maximo, is it?
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