Recent developments seem to indicate a trend towards what could be the beginning of a new stage of preferential cooperation between the countries of the South American region, especially in the field of international trade.

The new Argentine government will face the challenge of developing a strategy to integrate the country and its productive sectors into international trade, both regionally and globally.
It is a strategy that, today more than ever, will require effective coordination between all the actors involved both at the national and provincial levels.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will play a key role as one of the spheres of articulation of all the actors involved in Argentina's international integration strategy.

Although it is still too early to make any firm assertions, recent events seem to indicate a trend that could mark the beginning of a new stage of preferential cooperation between the countries of the South American region, especially in the field of international trade.

There seems to be a need for common preferential working modalities between South American countries, which would make it possible to overcome the concepts, schemes and approaches that have prevailed in recent decades and are nowadays becoming obsolete.

Specifically, this could require a proper diagnosis of the experiences that have been encountered in developing, for example, Mercosur and its preferential trade negotiations with other South American countries, as well as with those belonging to other geographical regions.

Clearly, this is not an exclusively South American -let alone Latin American- phenomenon. On the contrary, it seems to be a global one and therefore also evident in other regions. An example of this can be seen in Europe, especially since Britain's exit from the European Union.

The difficulties encountered in recent years in the experience of negotiating an interregional agreement between Mercosur and the European Union may illustrate the convenience of analyzing the methods used to make the idea of joint work between countries belonging to different regions feasible. Especially when they have common interests and, above all, the need to cooperate in their respective strategies for international integration.

At the time of writing, it is not yet clear whether this bi-regional agreement could finally enter into force. Difficulties continue to be observed on both sides of the Atlantic. However, even if it does finally enter into force fromally, its effective implementation will require concerted efforts that may eventually exceed those available.

Mercosur's negotiating agenda will tend to become more complex in the future, especially if the bi-regional agreement finally enters into force or if an alternative is found within a reasonable timeframe. The recent incorporation of Bolivia as a full member and the need to establish more effective links with other South American countries-including of course those that may develop within the Latin American region-and with countries in other regions, are only examples of the institutional efforts that will be required from Mercosur if it aspires to play an effective role at the international level for the benefit of its member countries.

The new Argentine government will have the challenge -among many others- of developing a strategy for the integration of the country and its productive sectors into international trade, both regionally and globally. It is a strategy that, today more than ever, will require effective coordination between all the actors involved, both at the national and provincial levels. In this regard, a key role will be played by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as one of the spheres of articulation of all the protagonists involved in Argentina's international integration strategy.

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