São Paulo – Brazil’s ratification of the free trade agreement between Mercosur and Palestine is of great political relevance for the Middle East state and is expected to encourage other countries in the South American bloc to ratify it, too, Palestine’s ambassador to Brazil Ibrahim Alzeben told ANBA.
The free trade agreement between Mercosur and Palestine was first signed in December 2011 but had no date set to enter into force. However, Palestine ratified it last April, and Brazil on July 5, while chairing the bloc’s summit in Paraguay, thus allowing it to start taking effect in 30 days, that is, in early August. For it to come into force for other Mercosur countries as well, they have to deposit their own individual ratifications.
“It’s very important for us that (Brazil) signed and ratified this agreement so that it can encourage other countries in Mercosur – Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina – to do the same,” said Alzeben. “For us, it’s more important politically than economically or trade-wise due to the Israeli occupation that causes everything to go through Israeli ports and airports, as the entire territory is under occupation,” he told ANBA.
The diplomat spoke of the economic mentioned the economic challenges of exporting and collecting taxes that Palestine faces due to the occupation. He says that Palestine has many goods that it could export to Brazil like natural stones and olive oil but points out that the trade goods go through Israel to reach Palestine, adding that the current war situation has impacted the country’s economy.
“This war situation certainly has a nefarious influence, with negative impacts across the entire national life. We hope this war ends and a peace process can restart between Israel and Palestine so that this occupation can come to an end,” said Alzeben. The occupation, he says, undermines the Palestinian competitiveness.
Mercosur’s support
Despite the economic concerns, the ambassador says the priority now in Palestine is ending the war, which has costed thousands of lives and destroyed 80% of the Gaza Strip. He says Brazil’s ratification of the free trade with Mercosur helps in the peace process, and he expects other countries in the bloc to follow suit. “That could help in the peace process and support a peace in the economic sphere, too,” said Alzeben.
The ambassador says that a Palestine able to export its goods and import freely is the hope for a normal life that Palestinians pursue, away from war. He thanked the Brazilian government and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for advancing the agreement and making it a reality. Alzeben believes ratifying the agreement is just the beginning of a process with Brazil, adding delegations are set to come to the Latin American giant to pitch their products and seek new Brazilian goods that Palestine is in need of.
Read more:
Brazil-Palestine agreement to enter into force
Mercosur-Palestine Free Trade Agreement
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
