Brazil Signs Agreement Ending International Roaming Charges Within Mercosur

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay signed, on Wednesday, July 17th, an agreement that anticipates the end of international roaming charges in the Mercosur bloc.

The agreement had previously been announced by the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) and was confirmed during the summit of the economic bloc, taking place in Santa Fe, Argentina.

President Jair Bolsonaro attended the meeting — his first since taking office — which announced the agreement and celebrated the modernization of the bloc.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate President Macri [of Argentina] on the momentous agreement that we have signed at this summit to eradicate cell phone usage charges for those traveling between our countries,” said Bolsonaro. “It was not reasonable for those in border areas to be charged twice for using a cell phone. This is an example of the difference for the better that Mercosur can make in the daily lives of citizens.”

Congress must approve the decision announced by the Mercosur leaders before it becomes effective. The announcement is in line with the free trade agreement signed by Mercosur with the European Union, which requires the two blocs to cooperate in providing “transparent roaming services at reasonable rates.”

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