President Luis Lacalle Pou reported via Twitter that Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo had presented the formal request letter.
He did so in a meeting with Damien O’Connor, Minister of Commerce of New Zealand, a depository country of the agreement which also includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay made a joint statement on Wednesday warning of possible legal and commercial measures if Uruguay insists on joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
This is an interpretation of the Mercosur regulations that prohibits the members of the bloc from holding unilateral trade negotiations.
In response, President Lacalle Pou said that Uruguay has the right to open up to the world.
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