Argentina did not follow Trump only because the Paris Climate Agreement is the basis for Mercosur

“A failure of the Mercosur agreement would not only send a fatal signal in the current geopolitical situation and be damaging to our economy, which is facing difficult challenges, but contrary to widespread opinion, it would also harm climate protection,” explained the climate policy spokesperson for the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats), Dr. Peter Liese, in view of tomorrow's vote in the EU Council of Ministers. 

“International climate policy is at a crossroads. Donald Trump has not only left the Paris Agreement, but he is also actively fighting against climate protection behind the scenes. Unfortunately, he has succeeded in preventing an agreement on a climate protection instrument at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

None of the approximately 200 signatory states to the Paris Agreement followed Trump's lead. No one withdrew, not even Javier Milei, who otherwise resembles Trump in many ways. In my view, the only reason for this is the Mercosur Agreement. The European Commission and Ursula von der Leyen personally have ensured that the Paris Agreement is one of the fundamental pillars of the Mercosur Agreement, meaning that Argentina's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement would mean that Argentina would not benefit from Mercosur. That is why all those who are committed to the climate should also support Mercosur,” Liese emphasized.