Uruguayan Economy and Finance Minister Gabriel Oddone made the remark and described as “very likely” the established deadline for negotiations ends without a formal agreement among the bloc’s members.

Oddone told reporters that, before the deadline expires, the most probable outcome is that the system will be implemented, whereby the first country to reach will receive the established quota, without any negotiated distribution.

“We preferred to pursue dialogue, but we are not close to an agreement,” admitted the minister, whose country wants to place beef, rice, pulp, citrus fruits, and dairy products, among others, on the European market.

He said Uruguay prioritizes negotiation, but it is preparing for an outcome where flexibility and the ability to react to technical mechanisms will be the leading tools for safeguarding national export competitiveness in the short term.

The MERCOSUR-EU trade deal, negotiated for more than 20 years before it was signed in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, in January, will enter into force on May 1.

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