Brussels, 10/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - According to WTO general secretariat, since its last examination in 2004 of Brazilian trade policy, the country has continued its modernisation and rationalisation of its trade system by increasing the average level of duties. 4.5% in 2004-07 and 6.3% in September 2007 and September 2008, the country's economic growth was helped by greater market competition that aided recent reforms and a good environment. Faced with mounting protections and on the eve of the G20 meeting, the 5th examination by the WTO of Brazilian trade policy gave the EU the opportunity to appeal to its Latin-America partners, which did not, however, feature in a recent European Commission report last January on third countries that adopted potentially restrictive measures or those that caused market imbalance (EUROPE 9856), to resist protectionism and respect the G20 commitment on opening up markets. Whilst praising Brazil for its responsible position in the economic and financial crisis, EU representatives told the WTO body in charge of examining the trade policy of member countries on Tuesday 10 March of their concerns involving barriers to trade experienced by European countries in Brazil. They identified non tariff barriers and the discriminatory use of standards and long procedures. In this regard, the EU is encouraging the country to step up efforts to reduce bureaucracy in certification procedures and align them on international standards. The EU underlines the insufficiencies of the Brazilian system for guaranteeing respect for intellectual property rights, delays in patent requests and brand submissions. Brazil is also called on to guarantee efficiency, transparency, opening and non discriminatory access to its public markets and to adhere to the WTO agreement on public procurement. Government export support programmes are also criticised and the need for greater opening up in the services market is also highlighted. The EU is asking for more transparency from Brazil on the process for regional organisation and integration of Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela). The EU underlines Brazil's crucial role in multilateral Doha round negotiations and its commitment to less advanced countries. (E.H./trans/rh)