Lacalle Pou regrets not finalizing the free trade agreement with China and leaves the task to the next government

Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou believes the next president should insist on securing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China, either as part of Mercosur or unilaterally. He expressed regret over not reaching such an agreement during his tenure due to the interests of other member states.

In a press conference last Wednesday, Lacalle Pou stated that “there are always things left to do and improve in every government.” He recalled his efforts to negotiate a bilateral agreement with China, but he was unable to convince Mercosur partners. “I was going to carry the jug to the fountain until it broke. I’ll leave the next president a jug that’s slightly cracked, not broken,” he said, referring to the opportunity for his successor to continue the process until the other Mercosur countries understand that they must move forward together with China or other countries, or allow Uruguay to proceed independently.

Last month, Chinese Ambassador to Uruguay, Huang Yazhong, revealed that some Argentine and Brazilian business leaders had expressed concerns about a potential FTA between Uruguay and China. The diplomat emphasized that while China maintains an open policy and is willing to sign trade agreements with friendly countries, it is important to address and resolve the concerns of neighboring countries, as they are significant commercial partners for both nations.

Main Source: (Spanish)

Luis Lacalle Pou llamó al próximo presidente a insistir con el TLC con China – Ámbito.com

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External Links: (Spanish)

Lacalle Pou sobre el acuerdo con China: «no logramos convencer al Mercosur» – SwissInfo.ch