Argentina and Brazil have agreed to strengthen the tariff reduction of additional Mercosur products

With the clear goal of reviving bilateral relations between Brazil and Argentina while strengthening Mercosur, President Mauricio Macri today received Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo, with whom he had accepted a proposal from both countries concerning the regional bloc. reduction of customs duties on extra products imported from Mercosur with the idea of ​​reducing costs.

At the same time, Macri and Araujo badessed the possibility that the President Jair Bolsonaro on a provisional visit to Argentina in mid-May progress in new agreements on economic and political integration. Although the exact date of this state visit has not yet been set, it will take place before the Mercosur Presidents Summit, to be held in July in Argentina.

"We have a convergent idea about Mercosur. We want an effective Mercosur and that this is a platform that can integrate with other blocks, "said Araújo at the end of the meeting with Macri.

At the same time, according to diplomatic sources from Brazil and Argentina, the most important point of the meeting of Macri and the Chancellor of Bolsonaro was that a joint project had been agreed and that 39 it would now be presented to Mercosur to establish a list of products imported from the region. additional regional block in order to reduction of tariffs and reduction of production costs.

"The idea is that there is an intelligent and cautious agreement without invasion of imported products but that the reduction of Mercosur's additional tariffs serve to encourage local production"he explained to Infobae an Itamaraty official.

For example, Macri and Bolsonaro will draft a proposal to reduce Mercosur's additional tariffs on capital goods, including machinery, computers and work tools, in order to reduce the costs borne by Argentinean entrepreneurs. Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Although the exact date of Bolsonaro's visit to Argentina was not revealed, it was learned that an agreement was to be reached in mid-May, because after that date, the government would start a steady pace of the campaign election. the president of Brazil does not want to interfere with the national agenda.

At the meeting with Mr. Macri in Olivos, Foreign Minister Araújo expressed Bolsonaro's intention to immediately advance negotiations for a agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. The possibility of an upcoming visit to Macri in Belgium to meet the authorities of the European Union to make known the intention of Brazil to go forward in this agreement as soon as possible. as possible was also mentioned.

The delicate situation in Venezuela, where Brazil and Argentina require Nicolás Maduro's regime the restoration of the democratic system and freedoms, was also badyzed. C & # 39; dismissed outright the hypothesis of a military invasion of Venezuela Although agreements have been reached between Bolsonaro and Macri, international pressure on the Venezuelan regime will be strengthened at the next meeting of Lima group leaders.

Chancellor Araújo, who went to Macri at Olivos Residence, then went to San Martin Palace, where he met with Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie, and Minister of Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Horacio Reyzer.

Yesterday, in dialogue with Infobae Chancellor of Bolsonaro said Brazil would make "a bet on Mercosur and its flexibilisation" as soon as it is possible for each country to conclude trade negotiations with third countries. "We will follow with great importance what we are doing now: the European Union, Canada or Korea, and the idea is that Mercosur partners can do different things," said Araújo.