A brake for China

Diplomatic sources quoted by the newspaper highlighted that the Spanish government wants to put limits on China's growing political and economic influence in the Mercosur countries, which include Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, as well as in the Latin American region as a whole.

Mercosur Block

In a letter to the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Friday, Sánchez underlined the "strategic importance" of Latin America for Europe, despite the reluctance of some EU countries such as France to boost trade relations. between the blocks.

Although the EU-Mercosur agreement is currently on hold, the EU has in recent years increased its economic ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific region by signing trade agreements with countries such as Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.

Making history

Negotiations with the Mercosur bloc concluded in mid-2019, crowning a gigantic effort that spanned more than two decades. The pact, the largest ever negotiated by the EU, would allow the bloc access to a market of 265 million people and the gradual reduction of 90% of tariff barriers in 10 years.

However, several EU countries are reluctant to go ahead. 

Latin America in the crosshairs

France and Germany have expressed serious concerns about climate protection issues, although Paris seems more concerned about the future of its powerful agricultural sector if trade barriers for Latin American products are removed.

Last year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed "considerable doubts" about the deal given the scale of deforestation in Latin America, among other things.