On December 10th, 2017, the MERCOSUR Chiefs Negotiators of Trade Agreements and the Deputy Minister for Trade & Investment of the Republic of Korea held a meeting in Buenos Aires and agreed on the importance of quickly initiating negotiations for a Trade Agreement between MERCOSUR and Korea, after their respective internal procedures have been completed. Both parties shared the common will and understanding that the trade agreement must be consistent with WTO rules and be commercially meaningful. In addition, the agreement should be broad and balanced, including trade in goods, trade in services, investments, economic cooperation and other areas of mutual interest. Also, the representatives agreed that the trade agreement will play an important role in the promotion of trade and investment and in the strengthening of the economic relations existing between their countries, which in turn will contribute to a further development of political relations, social and cultural rights, as well as cooperation between their countries.