Weekly Report - 01 October 2020 (WR-20-39)

The Paraguayan government is the only member of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) to have come out in defence of the trade agreement that the bloc signed with the European Union (EU) in June 2019 following the threat by the French government not to ratify it unless Mercosur members show greater commitment to protecting the environment [WR-20-38]. With Mercosur heavyweights Brazil and Argentina seemingly unwilling to champion an agreement that neither of their presidents particularly likes, it appears that it is up to the government led by President Mario Abdo Benítez to sing the praises of an accord that many consider crucial for Mercosur. This is a tall order that the Abdo Benítez government will struggle to deliver unless it can convince all Mercosur partners to present a common front.