Josep Borrell: "Critical minerals can be the basis for the integration of Latin America"

Josep Borrell emphasized the need for greater integration in Latin America to avoid a new cycle of extractivism and enhance global economic presence. Experts at the World in Progress forum highlighted the importance of strong institutions and consensus-building amidst regional polarization. Borrell noted that 70% of Latin America's mineral resources are exported unrefined, urging for a strategy similar to the EU's integration based on critical minerals. He proposed tariff exemptions for Latin American products in Europe to foster trade. The CEPAL's executive secretary echoed the need for governance beyond electoral cycles, while discussing the EU-Mercosur agreement's potential benefits and challenges in trade.