Negociar el comercio de servicios con China desde la perspectiva uruguaya
| Autor | Ignacio Bartesaghi/Gabriel Gari/Natalia Melgar |
| Cargo | Universidad Católica del Uruguay/Queen Mary, University of London/Universidad Católica del Uruguay |
| Páginas | 74-91 |
Latin American Journal of Trade Policy 11 (2021) – ISSN 079-9668 – Universidad de Chile
74
Negotiating Trade in Services with China from the Uruguayan Perspective
Ignacio Bartesaghi*
Gabriel Gari**
Natalia Melgar***
Abstract
This paper focuses on trade in services, in particular it assesses the concessions made by China when
negotiating trade agreements. Additionally, it refers to the opportunities that Uruguay may have in
exporting services to China in case of signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The debate on this issue
started in 2016 when Uruguayan President Vázquez visited China and with the Chinese President Xi
Jinping raised the possibility of signing an FTA. Since then, opposing arguments have been put forward.
Unfortunately, the limited information on bilateral trade in services flows is a limitation for this kind of
studies. It is highlighted that there will be additional large gains which would emerge from trade in goods,
cooperation, or investments.
Keywords: services, integration, trade agreement, China, Uruguay.
JEL Classification: F00, F14, F15
Resumen
Esta investigación se centra en el comercio de servicios y en particular, en las concesiones que ha realizado
China al negociar acuerdos comerciales. Además, se refiere a las oportunidades que una economía
pequeña como Uruguay puede tener al exportar servicios al gigante asiático en caso de firmar un Tratado
de Libre Comercio (TLC). El debate sobre este punto comenzó en 2016, cuando el presidente de
Uruguay, Vázquez, visitó China y con el presidente de ese país, Xi Jinping, anunciaron la posibilidad de
firmar un TLC. Desde ese momento, diversos agentes han presentado argumentos tanto a favor como
en contra de este acuerdo. Desafortunadamente, la falta de información bilateral sobre el comercio de
servicios es una limitación para esta clase de análisis. Se destaca que un acuerdo de este tipo podría
implicar grandes ganancias adicionales las cuales se originarían en el comercio de bienes, la inversión o la
cooperación internacional.
Palabras clave: servicios, integración, acuerdo comercial, China, Uruguay.
Clasificación JEL: F00, F14, F15
* Director of the International Relations Institute, Catholic University of Uruguay. E-mail: ibartesa@ucu.edu.uy. Received:
August 24th 2021; modifications: November 24th 2021; accepted: December 06th 2021.
** Director LLM Programme in International Economic Law, Queen Mary, University of London. E-mail: g.gari@uqmul.ac.uk..
***Professor and Researcher at the Catholic University of Uruguay, International Relations Institute. E-mail:
natalia.melgar@ucu.edu.uy.
Ignacio Bartesaghi, Gabriel Gari and Natalia Melgar
Negotiating Trade in Services with China from the Uruguayan Perspec tive
75
Introduction
Over the last fifteen years, China has deepened its relationship with Latin-America and the Caribbean
(LAC). This process has been characterized by a relevant growth in trade flows and the signature of FTAs
with Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru. China is currently negotiating an FTA with Panama and conducting a
joint feasibility study for an FTA with Colombia1. Furthermore, the last China’s White Books on the
relationship with LAC countries highlights that the trade agreements with this group of countries are a
priority for the Chinese government.
Figure 1: LAC trade in goods with China
Source: own elaboration based on Trade Map.
The FTA between China and Chile came into force in 2010. When considering the experimental data set
that is being developed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) that includes bilateral trade in services;
it can be shown that between 2010 and 2019, Chilean exports of services were down 0.2% but those to
China grow 2.9%% and the participation of China as a destiny of these exports varied from 7.0% in 2010
to 9.2% in 2019.
In the case of Uruguay, in 2016, President Vázquez visited China and with Chinese President Xi Jinping
discussed the possibility of signing a trade agreement. However, no progress was made on this front until
September 2021 when the parties publicly announced their intention to conduct a joint feasibility study
for an FTA with a view to start negotiations in early 20222.
Moreover, the Uruguayan internationalization strategy has been criticized for its slow progress in
bilateral trade talks. In 2019, the agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR was signed,
after 20 years of negotiations. In that year, MERCOSUR also signed an agreement with the European
Free Trade Association. Hence, the external agenda has become more dynamic. However, it is unclear
whether the agreement with the European Union would be ratified.
Back in 2016, the announcement of a possible FTA with China opened a debate about the potential
impact of the agreement for the Uruguayan economy. Some studies focused on trade in goods suggest
that the net result would be positive (Bartesaghi and Melgar, 2018). However, the analysis of the potential
impact of an FTA with China in the Uruguayan services sector has, so far, not received enough attention.
1 More information can be found in: http://fta.mofcom.gov.cn/english/index.shtml
2 More information can be found in: https://www.gub.uy/presidencia/comunicacion/noticias/inicio-su-trabajo-equipo-
negociador-del-estudio-factibilidad-para-acuerdo
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
8%
9%
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Participation of China in LAC´s exports Participation of LAC in China´s imports
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