Between the neutrality of Macri and the war cry of Europe and the United States – 07/22/2018

The Argentine government knows that, as a host, it has emerged successfully from a multilateral meeting that promised to be of minimal complexity since what is precisely the heart of trade multilateralism.

Discretion and neutrality were his invincible weapon. Around hyper-concentrated information and little available to the press, ministers and delegations from other countries have not hesitated to oppose their positions. "I call the United States to return to reason, to respect the world rules and to respect their allies The domination of the jungle will only lead to chaos," said the French minister Bruno Le Maire Clarin after acknowledging that "it is no surprise" that trade and multilateralism are at the center of the G20 talks in Buenos Aires. "There are concerns about all its potential impacts," he said, and although he stressed that his country does not want a "trade war," he is eager to "get out of the current situation." , stating that it was the United States. whoever must take the first step. "It is the United States that imposed tariffs, they must be the first to come to their senses."

The French position is the same as that prevailing on the European side of the G20, including the Germans. Also in China. But the US Treasury Secretary turned the debate into a ball that plays on his side. "We support the idea that trade is important for the global economy, but it must be fair and reciprocal," he said. Overall, the G20 Finance ended without anyone kicking the table, with US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, saying Clarin that Donald Trump will come to Argentina at the end of the year and a statement that goes even beyond what was said in March: trade tensions are recognized, trade and investment are recognized as engines of growth. And common issues were agreed, which were even part of the slogan of Argentina, which for the first time presides over this group of powers and emerging countries that account for 85% of global GDP.

Behind the answers of Nicholas Dujovne yesterday at a press conference read a previous statement without leaving a comma to answer asked questions, presumes a mandate. President Mauricio Macri also made no reference to the difficulties the world is going through with the advent of Donald Trump and his trade protectionism. Instead, he has limited himself to "the best efforts to meet common challenges".

It was actually a strategy that worked. Argentina is a small country that does not gravitate to the world stage. But the situation generated a very difficult situation both inside and outside, just during the year presided over by the G20. In particular, it is a sensitive issue. For if Macri Argentina is pro-liberal, pro-multilateral and anti-protectionist, it does not want the confrontation of tariffs and tariffs between the United States, China, the European Union, Mexico , Canada and other allies to launder the December 1st.

In this train, another of the keys to avoiding bad drinks at the top this Saturday and Sunday was the bilateral work that Argentine negotiators have applied in recent weeks, one of whose engines was that of Laura Jaitman. , the "deputy" of the Argentine G20 Finance. One of the invisible but most important negotiators of the government.