Rio de Janeiro, Apr 29 (EFE) – Amid the recent war launched by the United States government, the BRICS foreign ministers defended free trade in a two-day meeting that ended Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro.
The bloc’s ministers expressed “serious concerns about the rise of unjustified unilateral protectionist measures inconsistent with World Trade Organization rules, including the indiscriminate raising of reciprocal tariffs and non-tariff measures,” read the statement released by the Brazilian presidency, not signed by all due to differences on other issues.
The emerging economies bloc criticized “the indiscriminate increase” of tariffs, the imposition of non-tariff safeguards, and “the misuse of green policies for protectionist purposes.”
The document does not name any specific country, but Brazil has been particularly critical of the European Union’s environmental policies, which have hampered negotiations on the trade agreement with Mercosur, which has not been ratified.
The ministers warned that protectionist measures are causing “disruptions” in the global supply chain and adding uncertainty to the global economy.
In addition, the group’s foreign ministers expressed “serious concern at the prospect of a fragmented global economy and the weakening of multilateralism.”
They urged all parties to take action to defend free trade and the multilateral trading system and to strengthen the World Trade Organization.
They also stressed that unilateral economic sanctions “disproportionately” affect the poor and vulnerable and called for the elimination of all unilateral coercive measures.
Tuesday’s declaration was not signed by the BRICS due to discrepancies raised by Egypt and Ethiopia over the reform of the UN Security Council, according to Brazilian diplomatic sources.
The foreign ministers’ meeting is in preparation for the summit of BRICS leaders to be held in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7.
The BRICS forum was founded by Brazil, China, Russia, India, and South Africa, last year it also included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia.EFE
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