Brazil eyes signing Mercosur-EU agreement this year, says Ministry secretary

Brazil’s Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, Márcio Elias, announced on Sunday (23) that the federal government intends to finalize the free trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union this year.

During an interview in Lisbon, where he is accompanying President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s delegation, Elias stated that Brazil intends to close the deal still in this half of the year.

“We expect to see this agreement signed this year as quickly as possible. If possible, we would close it in this half of the year, as it is our desire,” he said.

According to the Secretary, the Brazilian government is still in contact with European authorities to find answers to the demands the country and the other bloc members must meet.

Elias also stated that most obstacles are related to environmental demands and labor legislation, whose specifications are already met by Brazil but still need the green light of other Mercosur countries to be included in the commercial agreement clauses.

“We are very close [to signing the deal], but to do so, we need to think in global terms. We have several issues that need to be addressed. However, none of them are insurmountable. That is why President Lusaidhat we will close the deal,” he concluded.

Source: Comex do Brasil

To read the original news article, see: https://www.comexdobrasil.com/acordo-mercosul-ue-pode-ser-fechado-neste-ano-diz-secretario-executivo-do-mdic

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