Brussels, 30/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 29 July, Katia Abreu, the Brazilian minister for agriculture, indicated that Brazil was working on the final details of its offer for the negotiations on market access, as part of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement. It is hoping to proceed to the exchange of offers with the EU in the fourth quarter of 2015, if possible, by the end of October.
Speaking at an agricultural event in Brazil, Abreu stated: “We agreed to exchange offers in the last quarter of the year, between October and November. But we are working to carry it out at the end of October”. Quoted by the Buenos Aires Herald Abreu insisted that “A deal increases the export expectations of all sectors of the economy, especially agriculture”.
The European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström and the Trade Ministers from the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela) made an agreement during a meeting at the EU/Latin America and Caribbean Summit on 11 June in Brussels, to work on producing an exchange of offers on market access (which covers agricultural and industrial products, as well as services and public procurement) in the last quarter of 2015.
“We're optimistic about the deal and we should be able to exchange offers over the next few months. Now the ball is in the European Union's court. Our offer is almost ready, each country is working on the final details”, explained Abreu.
The Brazilian Minister also quoted a recent report by the Getulio Vargas University (FGV), which said Brazilian agricultural exports would increase 20 percent thanks to the EU/Mercosur agreement. The figure is in line with estimates from the European Commission, which is anticipating a 40 percent increase in exports from Brazil. Abreu said: “There are some restrictions on the Brazilian industry… we'll need more time to adapt to the free trade scheme. One day we'll be able to include all goods in the free trade agreement. The agricultural sector almost doesn't have any problems”. (Emmanuel Hagry)