This Friday’s international political postcard will be the presence of President Javier Milei for the first time at the summit of Mercosur leaders, this time inside Montevideooccasion in which Argentina will take over the presidency “pro tempore”. of the bloc and where the definitive advancement of the free trade agreement with the European union is awaited, a topic which has been debated for 25 years and which on several occasions has been close to signing, even if it has always found “stones in the way” ” “at the last minute..
In addition to Milei, the presence of the presidents of brazil has been confirmed, Luiz Inacio ‘Lula’ Da Silva; from Paraguay, Santiago Penaand the ledge Luis Lacalle For, of Uruguay, to whom he will hand over power next March yamandú Bears.
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Meanwhile, the LXV Ordinary Meeting of the Common Market Council (CMC) and the Summit of mercosur and Associated Heads of State began on Thursday in Montevideo with the meeting of Foreign ministers. Meanwhile, this Friday at 10.30 am the plenary session will begin with the participation of the Presidents of the States Parties and Associated States.
During the recent visit to Buenos Aires by the French president, Emmanuel Macronhe reviewed in Milei the reservations of the French position on the agreement, but Germany and Spain support the Treaty, and the arrival in Montevideo in the last hours of the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenand the new Commissioner for Trade, Maros Sefcovicraise concrete expectations that the time may finally have come for the signing of that trade agreement with the Old Continent.
But on Thursday France and Italy pledged to make clear that, even if the parties agreed on a text, The process of ratifying a free trade agreement, which involves countries’ approval, will come up against a wall of resistance.
The central issue is the protection of the agricultural sector, which believes it has to compete on inferior terms with the powerful agricultural and livestock producers of the Southern Cone.
Macron insisted that the draft trade deal is “unacceptable in its current state”. “We will continue to tirelessly defend our agricultural sovereignty,” the French presidency added in a message on
Mar del Plata and the promise of “more chainsaws”
This Thursday, President Milei traveled to Mar del Plata to lead the inauguration of another gigantic hypermarket in Coto, which will be the largest in the country and represents a million dollar investment by the company, with nearly 900 direct jobs and hundreds of indirect ones. There Milei highlighted the results of his economic program, assured that since April there has been a “10% growth” in the activity and reiterated that what awaits us in view of the election year is “more chainsaw.”
milei spoke at Meeting of the executives of the newspaper El Cronistaand stressed that the government knew that “the adjustment would have an impact on the business,” but underlined it “the floor was hit in April” and that’s why he gets left behind.
“When we take the numbers from April to now, the economy has grown at a rate of 10%” Milei posed during the event.
In this sense, the President contradicted the vision of many entrepreneurs and said so at the end of the year “the country will not have lost anything in terms of activity”, While “inflation has collapsed”. Likewise, the president recounted details of the latest cabinet meetings and said he had provided them to his officials “all good news” AND? “everything points to 2025 being a great year.”
“I told them the worst thing we can do now is rest on our laurels and, above all: more chainsaws. So what’s coming is more chainsaws,” Milei then stated this in front of representatives from the automotive, financial and markets, transportation and logistics, laboratories, energy, fintech and healthcare sectors, among others.
In Mar del Plata, Milei stressed that “the era of economic shamanism, price controls and disastrous inventions like the Gondola Law, which ended with empty gondolas, is over,” the president said at the inaugural event held on Avenida Jorge Newbery and La Boulevard Prunas. Along the same lines he stated that “today even a monkey in argentina understands that this thing ends badly, with the forgiveness of monkeys.”
“Maybe there are some monkeys on the loose, especially some calling for a coup, but we certainly know who they are and how many have failed.Others who liked to control by putting weapons on the table,” he stated, obviously referring to the former Kirchnerist internal trade secretary, Guillermo Moreno.There he asked the businessmen “good” who are not “afraid” to argue that “failures are a thing of the past” and have assured that their government will crack downta “the future and progress”.
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What impact will Javier Milei’s presidency have on the Mercosur-EU trade agreement negotiations?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Trade expert on Mercosur Summit and EU Agreement
Time.news Editor (TNE): Good day! Today, we’re joined by Dr. Ana Torres, an expert in international trade and latin American politics, to discuss the upcoming Mercosur leaders’ summit in Montevideo and the potential breakthrough in the long-awaited free trade agreement with the european Union. Thanks for being here, Dr. Torres!
Dr. Ana Torres (AT): Thank you for having me.I’m excited to discuss these critically important developments!
TNE: Let’s dive right in.This summit marks Javier Milei’s first appearance as the President of Argentina. What do you think his presidency will meen for Argentina’s role in Mercosur and the EU negotiations?
AT: Javier Milei brings a distinct economic ideology to the table. His focus on deregulation and free market principles could encourage a more aggressive approach to finalizing the trade agreement with the EU. Argentina’s increased leadership in Mercosur may also signal a renewed commitment to addressing some of the obstacles that have historically slowed negotiations.
TNE: We’ve seen the EU-Mercosur agreement in discussion for over 25 years. What have been the main hurdles that have prevented the signing of this deal?
AT: The main challenges have revolved around agricultural protections. European nations, especially France and Italy, are concerned about how their farmers would compete with the low prices of agricultural exports from South america. This is a sensitive issue and likely to meet significant local resistance, wich can complicate any final agreement.
TNE: Speaking of challenges, during Macron’s recent visit to Buenos Aires, he expressed some reservations about the agreement. With the upcoming presence of Ursula von der Leyen and maros Sefcovic at the summit,do you think these negotiations could finally gain momentum?
AT: Yes,the presence of high-ranking EU officials indicates a serious commitment to advance the talks. However, we should remain cautious. Macron’s reservations highlight the complex dynamics at play. Although the EU’s support—especially from Germany and Spain—is critical, the actual ratification process will likely face hurdles once it returns to the respective national parliaments.
TNE: It sounds like this issue is more than just a straightforward agreement. If the agricultural sector remains a sticking point, how might this affect future trade relations between mercosur and the EU?
AT: If the agricultural sector cannot be addressed adequately, it could derail the entire agreement. Failure to ratify could embolden politicians in both regions who oppose open trade, positioning Mercosur as a less attractive partner for future trade deals. Conversely, if Argentina, under Milei, manages to find a compromise that satisfies both parties, it could significantly strengthen ties and open doors for further cooperation.
TNE: The summit proceedings have begun with meetings among foreign ministers, leading to the crucial plenary session with heads of state. what are you anticipating from these discussions?
AT: I expect robust discussions on mutual expectations from the agreement. Milei will likely advocate for a leaner, more free-market-oriented approach, while we may see the other leaders pushing for protective measures for their domestic industries.This contrasting perspective could lead to some tough negotiations.
TNE: Lastly, what would a prosperous outcome of the summit mean for the future of Mercosur and regional cooperation in South America?
AT: A successful outcome could signal a new era of cooperation within Mercosur, potentially attracting more investment and stimulating economic growth. It would also set a precedent for more trade agreements with other regions. If Milei can showcase a willingness to negotiate and bridge gaps between differing interests, it could enhance Argentina’s standing within the bloc and strengthen regional unity.
TNE: Thank you,Dr. Torres, for sharing your insights. The stakes are undoubtedly high,and we look forward to seeing what emerges from the summit.
AT: Thank you for having me. Let’s hope for a productive outcome for both Mercosur and the EU.
TNE: Absolutely! We’ll continue to monitor the developments closely.