Latin American Responses to the UK’s Brexit

nsnbc : Latin American governments’ responses to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union was varied, ranging from reassurance to calls for caution and worry.

EU_ElectionBrazil, currently in a political crisis over the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff, noted that the UK’s departure from the EU deprives the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) of an important ally in its negotiations about a free-trade agreement with the European Union.

Daniel Godinho, Brazil’s Secretary of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services, said that the full impact is difficult to quantify but the UK was one of MERCOSUR’s primary allies in securing this deal. He added, however, that MERCOSUR will continue to pursue the process with other partners within the EU. In 2015, Brazilian exports to the UK rose to 2.9 billion dollars, accounting for 8.5 percent of the countrys exports to the EU.

The Mexican Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying “at this historic moment, Mexico remains determined to keep building on the excellent ties of friendship, the significant investment and trade ties, and the educational, cultural and technological cooperation that links Mexico to the UK. The Ministry noted that in 2015, bilateral trade rose to 4.312 billion U.S. dollars, making UK Mexicos 17th largest trading partner and sixth largest within the EU.

Chile’s Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz said “We must not jump to conclusions. This is a complex issue, we must be careful not to succumb to nerves as can happen during such and important event”. Munoz spoke at a press conference after meeting with President Michelle Bachelet and said that “only about 1 percent of our exports go to the UK. We have to maintain a sense of proportion about what this means for our country.”

Argentina expressed concern about the Brexit but added that this was a decision of British voters that must be respected Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra said at a press conference that “This is a decision of the British people and we cannot defy it. However, this is a strong indication that the world is undergoing a difficult moment, full of fear and isolation. … Fears are worsening, this is a very worrying reality. The effects of the UKs decision. They are not clear to us but they have rattled the worlds institutions,” she added.

The President of Uruguay, Tabar Vazquez also noted that the UKs departure from the EU will make it more difficult for the bloc to sign a FTA with Mercosur. “We will continue working but this does complicate negotiations for an FTA between Mercosur and the EU,” he said at a cabinet meeting Friday morning, where Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa confirmed that the two commissions working toward the FTA will continue their scheduled meetings.

F/AK – nsnbc 27.06.2016

Source Article from http://nsnbc.me/2016/06/27/latin-american-responses-to-the-uks-brexit/

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