George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has tabled a number of questions to European Trade Commissioner De Gucht asking him to suspend the trade deal talks with the Mercosur countries following the outrageous actions of Argentina’s President who has unilaterally raised tariffs on EU exports, tried to block all UK imports and nationalised the YPF oil company which is 50% owned by the Spanish company Repsol.

Commenting, Mr Lyon said:

“The unilateral raising of trade tariffs against EU exports and the unofficial attempt to block companies in Argentina from importing UK products to up the ante over the Falklands makes it impossible to see how there can be any further progress made on a FTA with the Mercosur countries.

“I have laid a number of questions asking the Trade Commissioner to explain what action he intends to take in light of these outrageous actions by Argentina which is a leading member of the Mercosur group of countries.

“Argentina has fatally undermined any prospects of a trade deal with the Mercosur countries.

“I want confirmation from the Commissioner that the EU will suspend the talks until Argentina starts behaving like a serious trade partner rather than a trade wrecker.”