The signing of this controversial agreement has produced mixed sentiment, ranging from euphoria on the part of industrialists who forecast increased short-term profit which will result from reduced tariffs for cars and machinery to the gloom expressed by agriculturalists for degradation of their products and the fear of environmentalists for the damage which may result from this exacerbation of the logistics for long-range supply chains.

The agreement bears little resemblance to the draft prepared in 1999. At that time the U.K. was a major partner of a robust EU while Latin America was plagued with political discontent and social disorder. During the next two decades, rifts in governance on both continents have altered aims such as the unrestricted movement of populace and the democratic compliance with international law.

Both Republican and Democratic administrations of the USA have treated South America as being its “back yard” in which events must be under control so that the economy and defence of the North may be of prime benefit.

Inaction from the original six member states of Mercosur has vacillated with political instability. Brazil with a population 213 million has been the obvious leader of Argentina. Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela (total population 96 million) although the last two countries have been suspended since 2016 for civil rights transgressions. In addition, there are eight associated Latin states which have a voice but not a vote at meetings of the expanded group.

Nearly all of these have responded to the overtures of China which has provided infrastructure and finance for development so that it is now their largest trading partner. Not to be outdone, Russia and the Eurasian bloc which includes Iran and former Soviet states has been active to a lesser extent by establishing both formal and informal trade agreements with individual countries without insistence for political change. In return, they have been supportive of both Russia and China within the UN concerning their squabbles with the USA.

The creation by the EU of its largest ever trade treaty will lead indirectly to South America becoming the pivot for exports and imports to both sides of the Northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This would then frustrate the intentions of the USA to impose sanctions or tariffs on those countries which will not bend to its will.

By ordering the abduction of the Venezuelan president, Mr. Donald Trump has demonstrated the iron resolve of his MAGA movement to achieve “American Supremacy” in foreign affairs by whatever means. The rule of international law has been abandoned in favour of imperial governance and the belief that all roads must lead eventually to dominance by Washington and the Pentagon.

This can be exampled by the current U.S occupation of the Galapagos islands and consequent control of the entire extended economic zone of the Pacific to the coast of Ecuador where three military bases have been built. The islands of Greenland, Cuba and the Azores could well be next on Donroe´s list for acquisition.

Opposition to this Treaty led by France, Austria and Hungary has been vociferous within the EU. It is their intention to force a vote at the next council assembly for a judicial appeal to be lodged with International Court of Justice for a delay to be implemented while further safeguards are sought to protect farmers and maintain the existing protective rules which prohibit the use of dangerous pesticides and cruelty to animals.

Environmentalists and indigenous peoples who fear the reversal of the Paris Accords and other hard fought for Ambiental legislation by permitting the continuation of destruction to habitats such as the Amazonian rain forest are combining to finance the cost of appeals at the UN assembly. They will be opposed forcefully by the profit motivated elite corporations

The alleged decadence of the EU and the likely withdrawal of the USA from NATO will add to the chaos caused by the re-shaping of misaligned geopolitical power.

This is a Treaty which is out of its time. It has been patched together to serve interests which are no longer relevant to the challenges to be faced in the second quarter of the 21st century. Commercial relations between nations must be motivated by social necessity: not as political instruments to enable the strategic competition of economic capitalism.