Brazilian president wants trade agreement this year Fire at Catania airport: people on the run

Despite ongoing disagreements with European countries, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is pushing for an early conclusion of a free trade agreement between the EU and the South American economic community Mercosur.

They want to close the deal “this year”, Lula said in Brussels on Monday before an EU summit with Latin American and Caribbean countries. A “balanced agreement” will open “new horizons”.

The planned agreement between the EU and the Mercosur states of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay has been suspended since the conclusion of negotiations in 2019 because some EU countries are not sufficiently addressing issues such as climate, environment and human rights. So far, however, the South Americans have refused to accept proposals for an additional statement. The free trade agreement could create one of the largest free trade zones in the world with more than 700 million people. It is intended to lower tariffs and thus stimulate trade.

In his speech at the opening of the Brussels summit, Lula stressed the importance of public procurement for trade relations. These are an important tool for linking infrastructure investment and supporting industrial policy, he said. Public procurement includes, for example, tenders for the construction of new public buildings or roads. (saw/sda/dpa)