Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has rejected an addendum requested by the Europen Union to the deliberate free commerce settlement between the European Union and the South American financial alliance Mercosur.
“This is unacceptable,” Lula stated on Tuesday on the summit of Mercosur heads of state and authorities within the Argentinian metropolis of Puerto Iguazú, which is positioned on the border with Paraguay and Brazil close to the world-famous Iguazú Falls.
“We don’t want an agreement that condemns us to being just suppliers of raw materials forever,” Lula stated. He had beforehand made a counter-proposal.
“I would like to work to ensure that we can conclude the agreement with the European Union in these six months and think about other things,” Lula stated with a view to the Brazilian Mercosur presidency for the following six months. “We want to discuss the agreement, but we don’t want to be forced into anything.”
Argentina’s President Alberto Fernández additionally criticized the extra declaration on local weather, surroundings and human rights proposed by the EU.
“It puts too much focus on environmental protection without considering economic and social sustainability,” Fernández stated. He additionally accused the EU states of protectionism, particularly in agriculture.
The 27-nation EU has been negotiating with the Mercosur bloc – which incorporates Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – since 1999 on a deal to create one of many world’s largest free commerce areas.
While an settlement in precept was achieved in 2019, excellent issues on either side have held up progress.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
