From the Newsroom
São Paulo – The European Union (EU) and the Mercosur, the customs union between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, started a new round of negotiations for an accord between both blocs.
The last meeting, in Brussels, scheduled for July 19 to 23, was interrupted by Brazilian negotiators two days before the end. They considered the European proposals in the agricultural area unacceptable. The EU had proposed spreading the opening of the market to goods considered sensitive over a period of ten years. The Mercosur wanted a shorter schedule.
The Brazilian minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, stated that he expects a better offer from the EU in the rounds that begin this week. The meeting will begin tomorrow (10) and will go on until next Thursday (12).
Permanent Appeals Court
On Friday (13) the Mercosur Permanent Appeals Court will be inaugurated in Asuncion, Paraguay. The organ will serve to solve trade conflict between the bloc members.
The court will operate in a historic building known as Villa Rosalba, and will serve as the last appeals court in cases involving the four Mercosur members. It will have a budget of US$ 200,000.
