Time               
13^th February 2025 from 8:30 to 12:00

Venue            
EY Finland, Korkeavuorenkatu 32-34, 00130 Helsinki    

Registration  The event is free of charge, but registration is needed at latest on 11^th February 2025 HERE.            

The EU and Mercosur reached a political agreement on the Mercosur Free Trade Agreement in December 2024. This agreement is expected to strengthen strategic trade and political ties between the EU and Mercosur countries. It aims to boost bilateral trade and investment, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, particularly benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises, and may also have an impact on security issues.

President Trump will take office in January. What will be the impact of the new administration in Washington on the framework of the USMCA Agreement?

The event is co-organized by the Finnish Latin American Business Council and Business Finland.

PROGRAM

08.30
Morning coffee with networking possibilities
09.00
Opening words
Ms. Päivi Pohjanheimo, Director of International Affairs & Trade, Finland Chamber of Commerce, Country Director, Secretary General, ICC Finland, and Mr. Janne Aalto, Member of the Board of the Finnish Latin Business Council
09.05 
EU-Mercosur Agreement: negotiated result and the way forward
Mr. Kent Wilska, Director, Unit for Technology and Sustainability, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
09.30
Market opportunities
Ms. Heidi Virta, Senior Director, Head of Region Latin America, Business Finland
09.40 
Panel discussion – Companies experiences and expectations led by Ms. Heidi Virta
and Mr. Janne Aalto
Panelists:  Mr. Johan Grön, CEO, Lamor, Mr. Risto Paldanius, Vice-President, Energy Americas, Wärtsilä, Ms. Carita Ollikainen, Head of Corporate Relations, Valmet, and Mr. Aleksis Kajava, Sales Director, Europe and Latin America, Vaisala
10.15 
Panel discussion – Ambassadors of Argentine, Brazil, and Uruguay
led by Mr. Kari Puurunen, Head of Mission, Consul, Team Finland coordinator, Consulate of Finland, São Paulo
10.45 
Perspectives of US trade policy, including potential impacts on Mexico
Ms. Kristiina Kauppinen, Senior Specialist, EU Trade Policy | United States, EU Trade Agreements, Department for International Trade | Trade Policy Unit
11.05 
Speech by H.E. Mr. Enrique Rojo-Stein, Ambassador of Mexico to Finland  
11.25
Discussion
11.50
Closing words  
Mr. Aleksis Kajava, Director, Europe and Latin America, Vaisala Oyj, and Mr. Janne Aalto, Member of the Board of the Finnish Latin Business Council
12.00
End of the event

WELCOME.