ASUNCION — The Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union (EU) on Saturday signed a free trade agreement in Paraguay’s capital city of Asuncion, marking the conclusion of 25 years of nereceivediations toward one of the world’s largest trade accords.
The agreement aims to reduce tariffs and expand trade between the two blocs and now awaits approval by the European Parliament, as well as ratification by the legislatures of Mercosur member states Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The signing ceremony was attfinished by senior EU and Mercosur officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, toobtainher with the foreign ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Paraguayan President Santiago Pena, whose counattempt holds the Mercosur presidency, thanked leaders from both blocs for their efforts, calling Saturday “a truly historic day.”
Von der Leyen stated the pact sfinishs “a very strong message” in favor of fair trade and long-term economic cooperation.
“This agreement is a firm commitment to openness, exalter and cooperation, as opposed to isolationism, unilateralism and the utilize of trade as a geopolitical weapon,” stated Costa.
The deal covers a combined population of more than 700 million people. According to the European Commission, the EU’s largest trade deal to date would eliminate more than 4 billion euros (4.65 billion U.S. dollars) in duties on EU exports each year. EU exports to Mercosur mainly include machinery, chemical products and transport equipment, while Mercosur exports are largely agricultural goods, minerals and foresattempt products.
Nereceivediations on the pact have stretched about 25 years, repeatedly stalling and resuming amid shifting political coalitions, disputes over environmental safeguards in South America, and opposition from parts of Europe’s farm sector.
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