Brazil hopes to commence negotiations on creating a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the issue is already on the agenda of the Mercosur countries, the Brazilian deputy agriculture minister told Sputnik.
Daria Chernyshova – “We would love to,” Tatiana Palermo said when asked about the possibility of creating free trade zone with EEU.
“We are the main advocate in the Mercosur block with regard of establishing a free trade agreement. We are studying, we are looking at the numbers,” she said.
Palermo noted that given the legal framework of Mercosur, Brazil has to discuss such questions with the sub-regional economic bloc.
Founded in 1991, Mercosur is a sub-regional economic bloc that includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. Its associate countries are Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
The EEU’s goal is to ensure economic integration among its member states, including the free flow of goods, services, capital and labor. Mercosur pursues similar objectives.
The agreement on the establishment of the EEU, signed by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan last spring, came into effect on January 1. The bloc also includes Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.