In the context of the 4th edition of the Dialogue between MERCOSUR and Japan, held at the Palacio San Martín, the regional bloc and the Asian nation reviewed their ongoing trade negotiation agendas and exchanged information on their progress.
The meeting was presided over by the Undersecretary for Economic Integration with the Americas and MERCOSUR, Ambassador Daniel Raimondi, exercising the Presidency Pro Tempore of MERCOSUR. The Japanese delegation was headed by the Director General of the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Yasushi Takase.
The delegations underscored their mutual importance as key players in trade and investment development in their respective countries.
As regards MERCOSUR, it was noted that its foreign affairs policy has gained new impetus, with a focus not only on relations outside the bloc but also on its own integration project.
In addition, both sides shared their views on trade negotiations as regards trade in goods and services, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, trade defence mechanisms and rules of origin, among other issues.
The delegations highlighted the importance of the meeting, as a result of which MERCOSUR and Japan re-established contacts and agreed to continue discussions to achieve substantial progress as regards their economic relations.
In 2016, MERCOSUR's exports to Japan reached USD 5.315 billion and its imports totalled USD 4.761 billion.
Press release No. 165/17
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