Trade barriers imposed by Argentina on imports in general have resulted in a drop of 16% in Brazil’s exports to its neighbor in the first half of this year.
Between January and June last year, Brazil sold goods worth US$ 10.43 billion to Argentina. This year, during the same period, the value of goods sold to Argentina is US$ 1.6 billion less.
In spite of the trade barriers, the executive secretary at the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Alessandro Teixeira, blames the international crisis for the situation. “The cause of these problems is the international crisis. It affects Argentina and it affects us, too,” he declared.
Teixeira noted that negotiations have improved the relationship with Argentina, that there has been a more positive dialogue.
“Our talks have strengthened our ties making it easier to deal with sensitive issues. Brazil has always had a clear and strong position in defense of national interests. Sometimes we have to be hard, sometimes soft. We are working to create a sustainable relation for both economies,” he said.
Brazil’s exports to Eastern Europe are down 38% and down 8% to the European Union in the first half. On the other hand, they have risen by over US$ 2 billion to China during the same period.
The Brazilian government believes it has got the right tone in trade negotiations with Argentina. As a result, there are hopes that sales to Buenos Aires will expand in the near future. That is the opinion of Alessandro Teixeira, the executive secretary at the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.
Teixeira says he is now negotiating with Guillermo Moreno, the Argentine secretary of Interior Commerce, in what he calls “an objective relationship.”
“We expect to have positive results this month (July) with the liberation of farm and manufactured goods. The international situation is responsible for many of our difficulties; it has caused problems for Argentina and for us,” said Teixeira.
Argentina imposed restrictions on imports with the result that for the first half of this year Brazil’s exports to its neighbor were down 16%. However, in the first week of July, barriers on pork were lifted and exports surged. Just in the first three days of July pork sales to Argentina were up 226%, compared to June.
At the same time, Argentina issued 229 import licenses for Brazilian farm equipment. “This is a good sign. The liberation of these products is an important result,” said the executive secretary, adding that Brasilia was monitoring the trade situation with Argentina on a daily basis.
“We have made progress. We do not know how long this situation will continue or if they will place more restrictions in the future. I don’t know. Whatever happens, our work is constant.”
Between January and June last year, Brazil exported goods worth $10.43 billion to Argentina. This year, during the same period, the value of goods sold to Argentina was $1.6 billion less.
