Interviewed by Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper, Tajani highlighted the political impact of the agreement, whose signing is expected on January 17, “at a time when the administration of US President Donald Trump is reintroducing tariffs on both the EU and other important markets.”
With the MERCOSUR countries, “we are moving towards the elimination of tariffs,” which “has not only commercial implications, but also political ones, given the current geopolitical situation and Washington’s interventionism in the region,” Tajani added.
The signing of this deal will enable the creation of the world’s largest free trade zone, encompassing 800 million people, and including 27 countries of the European Union and the MERCOSUR nations, among them Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Venezuela, the latter suspended since 2017.
The Italian foreign minister underscored in his remarks that the agreement is also relevant for his country for political reasons, given that “the presence of large Italian communities in these countries is significant and represents an additional advantage.”
The negotiations, which lasted for more than 25 years, finally led to its approval by the EU, following Italy’s recent endorsement. This will allow both parties to expand their economic and trade ties, with significant benefits, particularly at a time when US protectionism is on the rise.
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