The states associated with Mercosur are currently Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and, now, Panama. They participate in block activities and meetings and have commercial preferences
A Central American country, Panama joined the Mercosur free trade bloc this Friday (6) as an associate member.
The President of Panama, José Raúl Mulinosigned three agreements during the 65th Summit of Mercosur Heads of State, in Montevideo, Uruguay. An economic complementation agreement and two documents of democratic commitments were signed.
Mercosur was initially made up of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. This is the first summit with the participation of Bolivia as a state party – the country joined the bloc in July this year.
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The economic complementation agreement with Panama was created with the coordination of Brazil. At the last summit, in Paraguay, the president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Mulino discussed the Central American country’s entry into the bloc.
“I welcome President José Raúl Mulino, from Panama, which becomes the first associated state of Mercosur in Central America,” said Lula during the bloc’s summit this Friday.
“Today we also lay the foundations for future trade liberalization with Panama, through which 6% of world trade passes,” highlighted Lula.
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Export volume
From January to June 2024, Brazilian exports to Panama totaled US$440.9 million, while Brazilian imports of Panamanian products totaled US$7.8 million. The bilateral balance recorded a surplus for Brazil of US$433.1 million.
The Southern Common Market (Mercosur) is a regional integration process made up of state parties, which have the right to vote, and the so-called associated states, which participate in the bloc’s activities and meetings and have trade preferences with the party states. The states associated with Mercosur are currently Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and, now, Panama.
Also at this summit, in Montevideo, the heads of state of Mercosur and the representative of the European Union (EU), Ursula von der Leyen,. Negotiations had been dragging on for 25 years.
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(With Agência Brasil)
