Brazil has implemented a free trade agreement with the Palestinian Authority, a deal that has been pending ratification for over a decade, demonstrating support for the Palestinian people.
"The agreement represents a tangible contribution to the establishment of an economically sustainable Palestinian state, capable of coexisting peacefully and harmoniously with its neighbors," stated Brazil's foreign ministry on Monday.
Brazil, which recognizes a Palestinian state and permitted the construction of a Palestinian embassy in its capital in 2010, ratified the agreement last Friday. This agreement was originally signed in 2011 between the Mercosur trade bloc and the Palestinian Authority. It remains uncertain whether other Mercosur members will ratify the agreement. Argentina's right-wing government, led by President Javier Milei, is not anticipated to do so. Uruguay and Paraguay's foreign ministries have yet to respond to inquiries.
Palestinian ambassador to Brazil, Ibrahim Al Zeben, praised Brazil's decision as "courageous, supportive, and timely." He emphasized that this move is a practical step towards supporting peace in Palestine and expressed hope for an increase in trade between Palestine and Mercosur, which currently stands at $32 million annually.
