Mercosur: Argentina Withdraws from Negotiations

On Friday April 24, 2020, the Argentine government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, participated in the Mercosur coordinators’ meeting held through videoconference.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship published a press bulletin with a summary of Argentina’s resolutions as described below.

Argentina decided that, for the moment, it will not move forward with the Mercosur trade negotiation agenda, mainly in reference to the negotiations towards free trade agreements with South Korea, Singapore, Lebanon, Canada and India, among others. Argentina based its decision on the fact that "Argentina’s domestic policy is to safeguard the country from the effects of the pandemic while protecting companies, employment and the situation of the most vulnerable families."

Argentina made it clear that international uncertainty and the state of the country’s economy were what led it to withdrawing from these negotiations.

This decision will not affect the agreements drawn up with the European Union (EU) and with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA): both are at the stage of legal review with signature and referral to the Congresses of the Mercosur member states scheduled for 2020.