Uruguay’s President to advance FTA negotiations with China despite resistance from other Mercosur Member States

As announced on 13 July 2022 by Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou, Uruguay and China have decided to enter formal negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA).

President Lacalle Pou said in a press conference that the FTA feasibility study initiated jointly with the People’s Republic of China in September 2021 had concluded with a favorable opinion and that formal negotiations with China will begin in the next few days.

While the Uruguayan president said that the government’s idea is to move towards the conclusion of an FTA with China in conjunction with Mercosur, he made it clear that Uruguay is not willing “to stand still”, implying that ultimately the country could negotiate and eventually conclude an FTA with China individually.