Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on Friday proposed a September gathering between officials and business leaders from Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance in hopes of creating a tie-up between the two Latin American trade groups. Read full article
I don't know why she would bother. Why choose the swamp over a gleaming highway.
She is asking for years of petty wrangling. This will only slow down Chile.
She should blank MercoSur completely. Concentrate on the Pacific Alliance. Invest in infrastructure and education. Build on the already good relations with the USA and the UK. Stay stable. Get rich.
Soon those ne'er do wells over the border will come running after you, with begging bowls held aloft. ...
Many think this century will be the century of the Pacific as east Asia accounts for an ever increasing percentage of world trade.
Mercosur has not only failed but is essentially Atlantic. If Brasil wants to maintain regional leadership and better integrate with the Pacific economies it will need the Pacific Alliance.
Any agreements between the two will be from the PA agenda of greater trade freedom and free movement.
The P.A. countries are a mass of bilateral overseas agreements.
It's a good way of encouraging Mercosur to create a similar melange;
and it will mark the end of any aspiration of coherence within Mercosur, and any chance of a Mercosur-EU bloc-agreement.
(6) Condorito
Your political analysis about Mami are hopelessly flawed....
Remember when you were tellling us that she would push HidroAysen through...?
@ Think
I was wrong about the timing of HidroAysen, but I still think it will go ahead one day. An energy resource of that size cannot remain untapped.
At post number 6 I am not guessing at Mami's motives. I am saying Brasil has a strategic interest in the Pacific.
(10) Hermanito
Reading your last paragraph at (6)...:
Any agreements between the two will be from the PA agenda of greater trade freedom and free movement.
.... It is clear to me that you are guessing...
And guessing wrongly...
IMHO...
I think it's a mistake to tie the two blocks together, these trading groups are like oil and water, they will not mix very well. Brazil knows it cannot open it's self to foreign competition on a level playing field as it's protected, inefficient industries would be decimated bringing on massive unemployment and a huge recession, as well as massive capital flight. Brazil is stuck with the current system and so is Argentina to an even greater degree.
So what is going on in her mind? I don't know, but socialists have this solidarity mentality and she probably feels like by bringing in her compañeras she is doing the right thing by the sisterhood, hopefully they won't damage our economy anymore than what she's already doing.
On a different note; I hope Chile's elimination of Spain once and for all clears the misconception that the Spanish have that they own the name La Roja (the red), referring to their national side. La Roja is CHILEAN and CHILEAN only!!!!!!!!
(13) The Chilean perspective
You say…:
”I think it's a mistake to tie the two blocks together, these trading groups are like oil and water, they will not mix very well…”
I say…:
I think it’s right t to tie the two blocks together, these trading groups are like oil and vinegar, they don’t mix very well… but they make the World’s best dressing…
First it was the EC, then the EU. A common currency and a common equality, with everyone thrilled at the future. A chance for all to grow and prosper.
Remember the magic of the hot, new Euro ?
Now, not everyone is so thrilled, and some countries like Germany enjoy the benefits while others like Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, Spain, etc. suffer, and wish for the days of the Drachma, and the other old currencies again..
South America should avoid such mistakes, as not everyone abides by the same rules, nor carries their own weight equally, as we can see . Some nearby still believe they are actually Europeans, and not Latin Americans, at least until recently (say 1982).
The Pacific Alliance should be very, very stringent over memberships, even those of observers.
The EU managed the collapse of the USSR;
it incorporated countries sucked dry by Russia;
it used the economic strength of Western Europe to bring Eastern Europe up to speed - to the detriment of the former and the betterment of the latter;
it collectively survived the world's financial melt-down of 2008.
I don't like it but the best of a poor set of options in a totally crazy world.
Mercosur finds itself in a similar set of circumstances, with Brasil trying to do a Germany/France/UK coming to the aid of 'terminal' Argentina, 'terminal' Venezuela, and the minnows.
But Brasil is no Germany; it will do its best but will not beggar itself to bring financial probity and economic success to the bag of cats that is Mercosur.
It has potentially terminal corruption problems of its own.
The Pacific Alliance might survive if its markets for its raw mineral materials continue to create profit.
At least the P.A. it is trying, which is more than we can say for Mercosur.
16 & 17 making an interesting debate, some very good points there.
I sometimes think that the crucial factor for Europe is that absolute dread that there should ever be another war in Europe. The people and politicians will anything possible to prevent it.
What will bind Latin America together? Especially as all that leftie 'lets all hate the USA together' seems to be ridiculously unfashionable and outdated in the current multi-polar world.
The fat lady following instructions of her comunist gang wants to become alongside the botox queen, what a mess.
That´s why we say that leftist are the worse disease that can plague any country or even worse a whole continent.
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesMami !!!!
Jun 21st, 2014 - 08:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0Why?
Jun 21st, 2014 - 09:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0The PA is doing well.
Why would you possibly want to screw it up?
If it ain't broke, don't try and fix it!
Or you'll be sorrrrryyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know why she would bother. Why choose the swamp over a gleaming highway.
Jun 21st, 2014 - 10:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0She is asking for years of petty wrangling. This will only slow down Chile.
She should blank MercoSur completely. Concentrate on the Pacific Alliance. Invest in infrastructure and education. Build on the already good relations with the USA and the UK. Stay stable. Get rich.
Soon those ne'er do wells over the border will come running after you, with begging bowls held aloft. ...
Why of course.
Jun 21st, 2014 - 10:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0Let us hold it in Venezuela.... I mean how many months has Mercosur been trying to organise a simply meeting amongst themselves?
@4
Jun 21st, 2014 - 11:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0Very true. I laugh at that. Bitter, bitter laughs.....
Things are getting utterly desperate in Venezuela. Mami would do well to stay away.
@2
Jun 21st, 2014 - 07:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Why?
Many think this century will be the century of the Pacific as east Asia accounts for an ever increasing percentage of world trade.
Mercosur has not only failed but is essentially Atlantic. If Brasil wants to maintain regional leadership and better integrate with the Pacific economies it will need the Pacific Alliance.
Any agreements between the two will be from the PA agenda of greater trade freedom and free movement.
Mami seems to want to mommy all of SA.
Jun 21st, 2014 - 07:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Let us all hope that idea flops.
We DON'T want a TMBOC to replace TMBOA.
The P.A. countries are a mass of bilateral overseas agreements.
Jun 21st, 2014 - 07:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It's a good way of encouraging Mercosur to create a similar melange;
and it will mark the end of any aspiration of coherence within Mercosur, and any chance of a Mercosur-EU bloc-agreement.
(6) Condorito
Jun 21st, 2014 - 07:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Your political analysis about Mami are hopelessly flawed....
Remember when you were tellling us that she would push HidroAysen through...?
@ Think
Jun 21st, 2014 - 09:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I was wrong about the timing of HidroAysen, but I still think it will go ahead one day. An energy resource of that size cannot remain untapped.
At post number 6 I am not guessing at Mami's motives. I am saying Brasil has a strategic interest in the Pacific.
(10) Hermanito
Jun 21st, 2014 - 09:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Reading your last paragraph at (6)...:
Any agreements between the two will be from the PA agenda of greater trade freedom and free movement.
.... It is clear to me that you are guessing...
And guessing wrongly...
IMHO...
11
Jun 21st, 2014 - 10:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Think
If MHO didn't differ from YHO I would be more concerned.
I think it's a mistake to tie the two blocks together, these trading groups are like oil and water, they will not mix very well. Brazil knows it cannot open it's self to foreign competition on a level playing field as it's protected, inefficient industries would be decimated bringing on massive unemployment and a huge recession, as well as massive capital flight. Brazil is stuck with the current system and so is Argentina to an even greater degree.
Jun 22nd, 2014 - 01:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0So what is going on in her mind? I don't know, but socialists have this solidarity mentality and she probably feels like by bringing in her compañeras she is doing the right thing by the sisterhood, hopefully they won't damage our economy anymore than what she's already doing.
On a different note; I hope Chile's elimination of Spain once and for all clears the misconception that the Spanish have that they own the name La Roja (the red), referring to their national side. La Roja is CHILEAN and CHILEAN only!!!!!!!!
(13) The Chilean perspective
Jun 22nd, 2014 - 06:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0You say…:
”I think it's a mistake to tie the two blocks together, these trading groups are like oil and water, they will not mix very well…”
I say…:
I think it’s right t to tie the two blocks together, these trading groups are like oil and vinegar, they don’t mix very well… but they make the World’s best dressing…
About La Roja being…: ”CHILEAN and CHILEAN only !!!!!!!!”...
Ain´t you forgetting Ché Sampaoli and that Miiko pojken…?
They can’t even speak Shileno !!!!!!!!! ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3lQs4dysNw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3lQs4dysNw
agrees that it is a big mistake to try to bring these two groups together.
Jun 22nd, 2014 - 08:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0Consider the European Union.
Jun 22nd, 2014 - 08:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0First it was the EC, then the EU. A common currency and a common equality, with everyone thrilled at the future. A chance for all to grow and prosper.
Remember the magic of the hot, new Euro ?
Now, not everyone is so thrilled, and some countries like Germany enjoy the benefits while others like Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, Spain, etc. suffer, and wish for the days of the Drachma, and the other old currencies again..
South America should avoid such mistakes, as not everyone abides by the same rules, nor carries their own weight equally, as we can see . Some nearby still believe they are actually Europeans, and not Latin Americans, at least until recently (say 1982).
The Pacific Alliance should be very, very stringent over memberships, even those of observers.
Bothino #16
Jun 22nd, 2014 - 11:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0The EU managed the collapse of the USSR;
it incorporated countries sucked dry by Russia;
it used the economic strength of Western Europe to bring Eastern Europe up to speed - to the detriment of the former and the betterment of the latter;
it collectively survived the world's financial melt-down of 2008.
I don't like it but the best of a poor set of options in a totally crazy world.
Mercosur finds itself in a similar set of circumstances, with Brasil trying to do a Germany/France/UK coming to the aid of 'terminal' Argentina, 'terminal' Venezuela, and the minnows.
But Brasil is no Germany; it will do its best but will not beggar itself to bring financial probity and economic success to the bag of cats that is Mercosur.
It has potentially terminal corruption problems of its own.
The Pacific Alliance might survive if its markets for its raw mineral materials continue to create profit.
At least the P.A. it is trying, which is more than we can say for Mercosur.
16 & 17 making an interesting debate, some very good points there.
Jun 22nd, 2014 - 12:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I sometimes think that the crucial factor for Europe is that absolute dread that there should ever be another war in Europe. The people and politicians will anything possible to prevent it.
What will bind Latin America together? Especially as all that leftie 'lets all hate the USA together' seems to be ridiculously unfashionable and outdated in the current multi-polar world.
I wont be long, before CFK attempt a takeover of these two groups, and demanding their support over the Falkland's..lol
Jun 22nd, 2014 - 04:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The fat lady following instructions of her comunist gang wants to become alongside the botox queen, what a mess.
Jun 23rd, 2014 - 01:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0That´s why we say that leftist are the worse disease that can plague any country or even worse a whole continent.
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