Brazil, Chile release statement to speed up free trade
Brazil and Chile are willing to speed up efforts to bring a free-trade deal between both nations, inked in November last year, into effect. The topic was part of the agenda for a Thursday meeting (Sep 5) in Brasília, attended by Chile’s Foreign Minister Teodoro Ribera and Brazil’s Ernesto Araújo.
The agreement pends Congressional approval in both countries, after which the deal must be ratified by the two governments. The move is expected to introduce rules facilitating the entry of Brazilian companies in the Chilean market of public purchases, estimated at $11 billion.
Mercosur–Pacific Alliance
After the meeting, the two ministers released a statement listing the topics settled. In addition to expediting the free-trade pact, Chancellor Ernesto Araújo said that the two countries should forge closer ties between Mercosur—Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay—and the Pacific Alliance—Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru.
This should be made easier by the fact that Brazil is currently pro tempore president of Mercosur, whereas Chile is its counterpart in the Pacific Alliance.
The two chancellors also stated that the government of Brazil and Chile plan to build a highway corridor integrating the Brazilian Central-West and the ports in northern Chile. Before this project is concluded, a bridge must be built over Paraguay river, between the Murtinho port (in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul) and Carmelo Peralta, a city in Paraguay, subsequently reaching Argentina’s Northwest, then Chile.
Araújo said the two nations agreed to bolster scientific cooperation in Antarctica, where both have research facilities. The Brazilian base, severely damage by a fire in 2012, will be re-inaugurated soon.
The Brazilian chancellor went on to say that the joint development of Brazil and Chile in cyber-security is part of the declaration of commitments signed today. The matter, he said, “goes beyond classic security issues” between the nations.
Optimism, COP25, and the Amazon
The Chilean chancellor expressed optimism regarding the future of bilateral relations with Brazil, and said the pair have agreed on the construction of a digital port for the region, aimed to integrate both systems, not just among countries encompassed by the Southern Cone, but also Asia.
He said Venezuela’s situation was also discussed during the meeting, “as it affects all of the region.”
Teodoro Ibera also reported that Brazil accepted today to participate intensely at COP 25, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, to be held in Santiago, Chile, in December this year.
On behalf of President Bolsonaro, the Brazilian chancellor showed gratitude to the Chilean government for its aid in combating the wildfires in Amazon. Four Chilean aircraft are currently working in the area.
