Brazil wants to take advantage of Mercosur presidency to advance with its modernization -Economy minister

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil wants to take advantage of the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur to move forward with the modernization of the bloc, including digitalization, said on Monday the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, at the Mercosur Regional Digital Market seminar, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ECLAC.

The modernization of the bloc also involves the tariff dimension, adding that this has been worked out with the partners.

He said that this year, digital trade in Brazil is 72% above the levels observed in 2020. “We are already coming out of the pandemic, and the growth of the digital dimension continues to advance,” he said. Brazil is the 4th largest digital market in the world, he pointed out.

The minister pointed out that, in Mercosur, there is already an agreement that deals with digital trade. It was signed last April.

Brazil has advanced in digitalization, the minister commented. The gov.br platform, which offers federal government services such as requesting retirement and unemployment insurance, has 115 million users.

The country was recognized by the World Bank as a leader in the Americas in the provision of digital government services and the seventh in the world. It lags behind other countries that do not have such a large population, he commented.

Mercosur will remain relevant for Brazil, Guedes said, depending on “its capacity to respond to these market opportunities that exist.” Internally, the bloc reviews “obsolete” arrangements.

“And Mercosur’s relationship with the global economy, with new agreements, is essential,” he added. In that sense, the digital economy is a “fundamental aspect” in the new arrangements. “Mercosur has a second great opportunity,” he said.

The minister commented that Mercosur was created before large trade blocs, such as the Pacific Alliance, with an “anticipatory vision” of accelerating the region’s integration into the global economy. However, this idea has weakened. “We’ve lost some of that momentum,” he acknowledged. “With the digital economy, we have a second chance to revitalize our platform.”

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