A coalition of 13 associations representing different European industry sectors issued a joint statement, on Monday 28 June, calling for a swift ratification of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. Among the signatories are the organisations BusinessEurope, EuroCommerce, Euratex and SpiritsEurope.
Based on a study by the London School of Economics (LSE), they point out that the agreement is expected to increase EU exports to Mercosur by 10.6% and those in the opposite direction by 52%.
According to them, non-ratification will push the Mercosur region to trade with other partners that have lower labour and environmental standards.
They also emphasise the significant share of hydroelectricity and renewable energy in the energy mix of Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. In their view, these countries, especially Brazil, should be “a partner to cooperate with in the long run, not a country to isolate”.
See the joint statement: https://bit.ly/3w6ektQ (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)