In July 2023, I wrote in this column which is a global integration. At the time, the Argentine president was still, and Buenos Aires seemed far from any significant change towards an economic opening. The central idea of that article was simple: we needed to abandon the fetish for protected industrialization and seek a more pragmatic trade policy, connected with the world as the president, Lacalle Pou, proposed. The curious thing is that, past two years, who put this agenda into practice was not Brasilia. It was precisely Buenos Aires.
with all the theatricality that surrounds it, they have to destroy the predominant political tone in the great economies. He announced the gradual elimination of imports on cell phones, reduced internal electronics taxes and dismantled bureaucratic barriers to international trade. It is a liberalizing measure, albeit rhetorically packed in nods to figures such as – that, ironically, today leads the world’s largest economy with an unprecedented tariff climbing. Trump has implemented any criterion rates on all countries, rekindling the fears of a global trade war. As they turn inward, with speeches of reciprocity and punishment, trying to reopen the world. Malei, at least at this point, is against his idol.
Meanwhile, the contrast with Brazil draws attention. Lula, defends multilateralism and usually talks about the importance of international trade. In practice, however, his government maintains an economy closed. It did not come back, known as the “Rate of Blouses”, and did not take any proposal to reduce the common external tariff of the. The speech is of integration and is out there, only in the words.
Some defend these measures with the argument of protecting national industry or generating local jobs. The practical result, however, tends to be exactly the opposite: disincentive to innovation, increased consumer prices and loss of international competitiveness. Economic openness is not synonymous with the abandonment of industry, but a requirement for efficiency, quality and commitment to the future. Excessive protectionism generates accommodation, not development.
Meanwhile, Argentina, a country known for economic crises, constant interventions and exchange rate instability, signals to the world that she wants to be taken seriously as a commercial partner. We may question Milei’s style, his priorities, or even the political sustainability of his decisions, but it is undeniable that he tries to break with the closing logic that for decades has been consolidated in the Southern Cone.
Brazil needs to pay attention. If we want to resume dynamic growth, diversify our international insertion and offer goods more accessible to the population, we need much more than rhetoric: political courage to open doors. And for now, they are others who are spinning the door handles.
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