The dispersion of transnational strategies in Mercosur: a study of the Argentinean and Brazilian automotive business chambers between 2015-2019

This article analyses the role of the Argentinean and Brazilian automotive cham-bers of commerce in the regional integration process, Mercosur. In this context, we make a comparative study of the political positioning of ADEFA (Argentina) and ANFAVEA (Brazil) in relation to three events which were key in the development of the sector: the automo-tive liberalisation agreement between Mercosur and Mexico, the end of negotiations be-tween Mercosur and the European Union, and the extension of trade liberalisation in the sector between Argentina and Brazil. Using a methodology that combines a review of the statements made by sector representatives, the systematisation of chamber minutes and available statistical information, we identify dispersed and conflicting political strategies that affect the direction of external insertion and the future of the model of development of the regional bloc.