Chemical industry calls for current MERCOSUR rules to be respected in TEC revision

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In a manifesto signed by companies from Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay that make up the Mercosur Chemical Industry Council (Ciquim), the regional chemical industry is asking the authorities of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and its member countries to ensure that “any structured review process” of the Common External Tariff (TEC) respects the applicable rules.

The joint document, signed by the Brazilian Chemical Industry Association (Abiquim), the Uruguayan Chemical Industry Association (Asiqur), and the Cámara de la Industria Química y Petroquímica de Argentina (CIQyP), expresses the concern of industries in the three countries regarding the need to “properly measure the deadlines and graduality of tariff relief to ensure a safe and predictable business environment.”

Competitiveness and legal certainty and the specifics of each of the countries that make up the bloc should underlie the discussions the institutions suggest.

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The regional chemical industry also calls for a public consultation process to be established to map the production reality of each MERCOSUR member country formally and for authorities to commit to conducting the TEC review “in full compliance with the rules of the bloc so that Mercosur’s commitment to commercial introduction becomes a responsible and consistent public policy.”