Planet Mundus

The European Union is about to close its largest trade deal in history. The partner is Mercosur, South America’s biggest economic bloc. The negotiations have been going on for almost 20 years now. One key factor to understand the impasses and delays in the negotiations is to analyse Mercosur’s incapacity to overcome its huge differences. Formed by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, the customs union turns 27 years old next Monday. But why hasn’t it taken off yet? Authors: Ceci Arregui, Mario Braga, www.planetmundus.com