EU, South America Trade Agreement Postponed as Milei Awaited

  • Argentina not ready to conclude deal before new administration
  • Negotiators hoped for conclusion next week after progress made

Javier Milei

Photographer: Anita Pouchard Serra/Bloomberg
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A major trade deal between the European Union and Latin American economies won’t be signed next week as hoped, as additional commitments will require the approval of Argentina’s incoming president Javier Milei.

Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency of the Mercosur bloc — which includes Uruguay and Paraguay as well as Argentina — informed the EU delegation on the sidelines of the United Nations’ COP28 climate summit in Dubai that it won’t be possible to get the trade agreement over the finish line as officials had expected, people familiar with the matter said.