Delegates from Singapore and the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) began this Monday (11.07.2022) in Asunción the VI round of negotiations to reach a free trade agreement between both parties.
The Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the meeting will continue until Friday, July 15, an occasion on which "it seeks to complete the ambitious process initiated in 2019 and announce the conclusion of the negotiations at the close of the Pro Tempore Presidency of Mercosur," held by this country.
To this end, more than fifty negotiators from Mercosur and Singapore are participating in the Services, Investments and Institutional Negotiation Groups, which simultaneously began technical work to finalize these three chapters, according to the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry.
The remaining pending issues will be addressed by the chief negotiators of Singapore and Mercosur.
The Singapore delegation was headed by Francis Chong, from the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Meanwhile, the Paraguay delegation was made up of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
Following the meeting, the agreement between Singapore and Mercosur is expected to be signed in order to "achieve an increase and diversification of trade and investment flows." The Foreign Minister also added that it will allow "a renewed presence of the bloc in the Asia Pacific and the updating of trade disciplines to the highest international standards."Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay)
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