Lower Saxony and Argentina: New opportunities for research and trade!

Lower Saxony and Argentina: New opportunities for research and trade!

Dr.-Ing. Sylvia Schattauer, President of Clausthal University of Technology, emphasizes Argentina's attractiveness for international cooperation in research and teaching. The country, which focuses on the expansion of renewable energies and the extraction of raw materials, offers promising prospects for cooperation with German universities. Schattauer was part of a delegation from Lower Saxony that accompanied the Prime Minister on a significant trip through Argentina and Brazil to explore new trade relationships. This delegation included representatives from various sectors, including business and science, as well as members of the state parliament and the state chancellery.

The trip included meetings with companies as well as research and educational institutions in São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Rosario. It is in the context of the EU-Mercosur agreement, which was signed in December 2024 after 25 years of negotiations but still requires ratification. Loud bmwk.de The agreement aims to strengthen existing trade relations between the EU and the Mercosur countries.

Economic opportunities and challenges

Argentina, as South America's second largest economy, has rich natural resources such as shale oil, gas and lithium. These raw materials are central to economic transformation and access to renewable energy, especially green hydrogen. Schattauer sees great potential for TU Clausthal in collaboration with Argentine universities. Despite these opportunities, social tensions are present in the country, which could affect economic stability.

The bilateral relations between Germany and Argentina have intensified in recent years, with Lower Saxony acting as an active partner. In 2023, Argentina took 57th place in Lower Saxony's foreign trade ranking, with exports worth around 180 million euros. Diversifying trade relations could bring both economic and political benefits, particularly with regard to geopolitics and environmental standards as set out in the Mercosur agreement.

Key points of the Mercosur agreement

The Mercosur agreement aims to reduce trade tariffs and provide better access to one of the largest trading areas in the world. Within the framework of this agreement, the interests of agriculture are also taken into account. Market access for sensitive agricultural products such as beef and poultry is limited by quotas in order to protect the European market. These agreements are crucial to address the concerns of German farmers. They also promote the export of high-quality niche products that are traditionally popular in the EU.

Climate protection is a central topic in the agreement: It includes obligations to protect existing forests and takes into account the requirements of the Paris Climate Protection Agreement. These points are essential to ensure the sustainable development of commercial relationships. The bmel.de highlights that all imported products must meet EU health standards, which is important for the protection of EU consumers.

In summary, Argentina and the Mercosur countries not only offer great economic opportunities, but also face challenges that require careful consideration. The cooperation between Germany and Argentina could be significantly strengthened through intensive exchange in research and teaching as well as through the Mercosur agreement.