Sin el presidente Javier Milei, la cumbre del Mercosur inició este martes sus deliberaciones con el anunciado comienzo de las negociaciones de un Acuerdo de Asociación Económica (AAE), equivalente a un tratado de libre comercio, entre el bloque regional y Japón.

“Celebro que lanzamos las negociaciones (…) del acuerdo de libre comercio con Japón”, señaló el presidente de Paraguay, Santiago Peña, en la LXVIII Cumbre de Jefes de Estado y de Gobierno del Mercosur.

El mandatario paraguayo calificó el inicio de las negociaciones como “un paso histórico” que abre las puertas “de una de las economías más importantes del mundo” y que fortalece, según dijo, la proyección del Mercosur hacia Asia.

“Los japoneses son buenos amigos y son los mejores aliados que podemos tener en nuestro bloque. Les pido que podamos avanzar con ellos”, añadió Peña al dirigirse a sus homólogo de Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; de Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi; Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz; Ecuador, Daniel Noboa; y Chile, José Antonio Kast, los dos últimos invitados.

Milei es el único presidente del bloque ausente en la reunión, que se celebra en Luque, en las afueras de Asunción. En la cumbre, Paraguay traspasará la presidencia pro-témpore a Uruguay.

El canciller argentino, Pablo Quirno, ocupa el lugar del presidente Milei, que se quedó en Buenos Aires para atender “temas de gestión” en la antesala de la jura este martes de su nuevo jefe de Gabinete, Diego Santilli.

Pablo Quirno llamó a avanzar hacia una mayor apertura comercial

En su discurso, Pablo Quirno llamó al bloque suramericano a abandonar una visión proteccionista frente al escenario internacional y avanzar hacia una mayor apertura comercial.

“Señores presidentes, el Mercosur debe dejar de mirar el mundo como una amenaza y asumir el papel que le corresponde”, afirmó.

Además, consideró que el bloque “puede resignarse a administrar una estructura lenta, defensiva y alejada de las necesidades” de sus ciudadanos o “recuperar su vocación original y convertirse en una plataforma de prosperidad, competencia y proyección global”.

“El Mercosur necesita una discusión más profunda sobre su funcionamiento económico. Durante demasiado tiempo, nuestra región padeció una verdadera adicción al proteccionismo”, señaló.

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Quirno se reunió con el presidente de Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz, y le transmitió su “apoyo incondicional a la democracia boliviana” tras los 50 días de conflicto social y protestas impulsadas por sectores que exigían su renuncia..

“En el marco de la Cumbre del Mercosur, mantuve un encuentro con el presidente del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz. Le transmití el claro mensaje del presidente Milei: ‘El apoyo argentino a la democracia boliviana, ha sido, es y será incondicional’“, expresó Quirno a través de la red social X, donde publicó una foto junto a Paz.

La negociaciones con Japón

El Mercosur indicó en un comunicado que con este acuerdo las partes buscarán “ampliar el acceso a los mercados de bienes agrícolas y no agrícolas, la cooperación y las inversiones recíprocas, e integrar las cadenas de valor entre ambas economías”.

Durante los diálogos establecidos desde diciembre pasado, cuando se firmó el acuerdo Asociación Estratégica Mercosur-Japón, ambas partes confirmaron que, “frente a un escenario internacional inestable, cooperarán para garantizar la seguridad económica y alimentaria”, según la nota.

Esta cooperación incluye la diversificación de las cadenas de suministro en sectores estratégicos como minerales críticos, energía, tecnología y agronegocios.

El acuerdo, añadió la nota, integrará una zona de libre comercio de aproximadamente 400 millones de personas y un producto interior bruto (PIB) combinado de 7 billones de dólares.

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Japón es uno de los diez principales socios comerciales del Mercosur, con un intercambio comercial de 13.700 millones de dólares en 2025.

El 20 de diciembre pasado, los presidentes del Mercosur anunciaron, durante una cumbre en Foz de Iguazú (Brasil), el lanzamiento de las negociaciones para alcanzar un acuerdo de preferencias arancelarias con Vietnam.

Poco después, el 17 de enero, el bloque firmó con la Unión Europea (UE) un acuerdo que abrió una de las mayores zonas de libre comercio del mundo, con un mercado de más de 700 millones de consumidores y cerca de una cuarta parte del producto interno bruto (PIB) global.

Además, el Mercosur negocia acuerdos de comercio con Emiratos Árabes Unidos y Canadá, el Reino Unido, Indonesia y Malasia, y negocia una ampliación del acuerdo de preferencias arancelarias con la India.

(Con información de EFE)

FIRST ON FOX: House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar is launching an investigation into pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly’s clinical trial operations in China, demanding records related to research conducted at Chinese military-affiliated hospitals and facilities in Xinjiang.

In a Tuesday letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Moolenaar, R-Mich., demanded that Eli Lilly provide detailed information about its clinical trial operations in China, including how the company ensures ethical standards, protects sensitive biotechnology and intellectual property, and veterans research conducted at hospitals linked to the People’s Liberation Army and in Xinjiang, where the Chinese government has been accused of widespread human rights abuses against Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities.

The committee says publicly available records indicate Lilly has sponsored or collaborated on more than 220 clinical studies in China since 2003, including at least 11 trials involving hospitals in Xinjiang, China, and at least 16 involving Chinese military medical centers. Several remain active today, the letter says. 

The inquiry marks an escalation in congressional scrutiny of U.S. pharmaceutical companies’ growing ties to China as lawmakers warn that clinical research conducted at Chinese military-affiliated hospitals and in Xinjiang, China, could pose national security, intellectual property and human rights risks. The committee is seeking records from Lilly as it expands its investments and research partnerships in China.

Moolenaar stressed that the committee has «no evidence that Lilly has engaged in illegal activity or wrongdoing,» but argued that conducting clinical trials in China — particularly in Xinjiang, China, and at military-affiliated hospitals, hospitals affiliated with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which the committee argues could gain access to valuable biotechnology research and clinical trial data generated through collaborations with U.S. companies.

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«The United States is engaged in a fierce biotechnology competition with the People’s Republic of China,» Moolenaar wrote, arguing that biotechnology has become a strategic arena in U.S.-China competition with implications for national security, economic competitiveness and the protection of Americans’ medical data.

He pointed to China’s latest five-year plan, which identifies biotechnology as a national priority and calls for expanded use of artificial intelligence across the sector.

Moolenaar said China has transformed itself into one of the world’s fastest and least expensive places to conduct early-stage human drug trials through regulatory reforms, state subsidies and rapid patient enrollment. The committee argues that speed has made China increasingly attractive for global drug development while also raising concerns about ethics, data security and intellectual property.

The committee says publicly available records indicate Lilly has sponsored or collaborated on more than 220 clinical studies in China since 2003, including at least 11 trials involving hospitals in Xinjiang and at least 16 involving Chinese military medical centers.  (iStock)

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The inquiry comes as Lilly has continued expanding its presence in China. 

Earlier in 2026, the company announced a roughly $3 billion investment to expand manufacturing and local supply in the country, bringing its total investment in China to nearly $6 billion.

Lilly also has deepened its research ties with Chinese biotechnology companies, announcing an up to $8.8 billion oncology and immunology collaboration with Innovent Biologics in February and an agreement worth up to about $3 billion with Haisco Pharmaceutical Group earlier ni June. Both partnerships are referenced in Moolenaar’s letter as examples of the company’s expanding relationships with Chinese drugmakers.

The chairman also questioned whether China’s clinical trial system adequately protects participants’ rights. He cited research suggesting many participants misunderstand the experimental nature of drug studies or mistakenly believe treatments have already been proven effective, raising concerns about whether informed consent is being properly obtained.

The letter separately raises concerns about trials conducted in Xinjiang, pointing to reports from the United Nations, the State Department and human rights organizations documenting allegations of forced medical testing, DNA collection and other abuses targeting Uyghurs. Moolenaar argued those conditions warrant heightened scrutiny over whether clinical trial participants in the region are volunteering freely.

The committee also argues that research conducted at hospitals affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army raises questions about whether sensitive biotechnology research and proprietary data developed through clinical trials could ultimately benefit China’s military biotechnology programs.

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Moolenaar gave Lilly until July 17 to provide documents detailing its due diligence procedures, inspections of clinical trial sites, agreements with Chinese companies, and safeguards for protecting sensitive data and intellectual property.

«Lilly has received the letter from the House Select Committee on China. We are reviewing the letter closely,» a company spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

The conservative, pro-U.S. government of President Rogrigo Paz is being challenged in the streets by radical elements led by a former socialist president recently forcing the new Bolivian government to introduce a state of emergency.

The landlocked mineral-rich nation is facing one of its deepest political crises in decades as economic turmoil, nationwide protests and a battle over the country’s future threaten to reshape the balance of power in South America.

The unrest comes after years of political divisions following the tenure of socialist President Evo Morales, whose Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) dominated Bolivian politics for nearly two decades. Internal fractures, economic decline and public frustration have weakened the movement and opened a new chapter of uncertainty.

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The Trump administration recently signaled strong backing for the Paz government while condemning efforts to destabilize the country.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States «Will not allow criminals and drug traffickers to overthrow democratically elected leaders in our hemisphere» and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to Bolivia’s «stability, security, and a better future for all Bolivians.»

Speaking on background, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that, «The United States strongly supports President Rodrigo Paz’s decision on June 20 to declare a State of Exception to restore order and ensure the free flow of food, medicine, and essential supplies to the Bolivian people.  We are glad that the blockades in Bolivia have ended and the government has restored order.»

Bolivia’s crisis has been driven by Morales and his supporters furious at the Paz reforms. Protests and road blockades have disrupted transportation, caused shortages and increased pressure on the Paz government.

José Luis Lupo, chief of staff and minister of the presidency of Bolivia told Fox News Digital: «After more than 50 days of blockades that severely disrupted the supply of food, fuel, and medicines, paralyzing much of the country’s economic activity and straining its democratic stability, I am convinced that Bolivia now faces a unique opportunity to transform a deep crisis into the starting point for a new phase of national reconstruction.»

26 June 2024, Bolivia, La Paz: Military police stand amid tear gas fired in front of the presidential palace on Plaza Murillo.  (Photo by Radoslaw Czajkowski/picture alliance via Getty Images)

He noted that «for weeks, we sought agreements with various sectors because we believe that, in a democracy, every avenue for mutual understanding must be exhausted before resorting to extraordinary measures.»

He said the state of emergency [state of exception] «was the constitutional last resort to restore freedom of movement, protect critical infrastructure and ensure that Bolivians could once again access essential goods. It was not a measure intended to restrict rights, but rather to protect lives, preserve democracy and restore freedom of movement to millions of citizens.»

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The turmoil has also had consequences beyond Bolivia’s borders. The country holds some of the world’s largest lithium resources, a key mineral for electric vehicles, batteries and advanced technology supply chains. Competition for influence in resource-rich Latin America has become increasingly important for Washington as China and other global powers expand their presence in the region.

Bolivia’s political crisis reflects a broader trend across Latin America, where voters in the last few election cycles have elected conservatives who challenged the left’s business-as-usual politics and in doing so have taken the continent in a rightward direction.

The socialist Morales remains an influential figure and continues to command support among rural and indigenous groups, keeping Bolivia’s political divisions alive even as the country searches for a path out of the crisis.

Mauricio Ríos García, manager of Crusoe Research and editor of FRACTAL Index in Bolivia, told Fox News Digital, «The 50-day blockades have caused estimated losses of $2.5 billion and the closure of around 13,000 companies. Once the blockades end, a rebound in demand combined with excess liquidity is expected to drive inflation higher.»

A police convoy clears one of the main highways after Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency following 50 days of blockades, in El Alto, Bolivia, on June 20, 2026.  (Jorge Mateo Romay Salinas/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Ríos said, «The government is nearing an IMF agreement that would likely include a new devaluation (exchange rate unification) and other adjustments in exchange for financing of around $3.3–5 billion. This marks growing dependence on the IMF and the United States, while the gradualist approach has left the economy with very little room for maneuver and risks further instability.

«Expectations for Bolivia’s economy in the second half of the year have been revised downward. Blockades and deeper structural problems rooted in the government’s gradualist fiscal and monetary policies have worsened the difficult inheritance from the previous administration,» he concluded.

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For Washington, Bolivia’s future represents more than a domestic political dispute. The outcome could influence America’s strategic position in the Western Hemisphere, the future of critical minerals, and whether Latin America’s recent political shift continues moving away from the left-wing movements that dominated parts of the region during the last two decades.

«I am convinced that stability will only endure if it is accompanied by inclusion. There can be no peace where neglect and inequality persist. That is why we are driving a development agenda for historically marginalized regions, particularly the provinces of La Paz, focused on infrastructure, basic services, productive development and the participation of the communities themselves,» Lupo said.

And as the barricades have lessened, Lupo, chief of staff and minister of the presidency of Bolivia, says, «A different phase is now beginning. I believe the country needs a broad political and social agreement involving the government, parliamentary forces, the regions, the productive sector, and civil society. Bolivia needs to pass reforms that provide legal certainty, promote investment, and modernize strategic sectors such as hydrocarbons, mining, lithium, renewable energy and the justice system. Such consensus is essential to restoring confidence, stabilizing the economy and generating sustainable growth.

«I hope to see Bolivia definitively replace confrontation with dialogue, strengthen its institutions, and build a more robust economy characterized by clear rules, democratic stability and greater opportunities for all,» Lupo concluded.

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The Trump administration had increased emergency humanitarian assistance to help address food and medical shortages caused by weeks of unrest, underscoring U.S. concerns that prolonged instability could have broader implications for regional security and democracy.