Brazil’s trade balance in the first week of October yielded a surplus of US$ 1.075 billion, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade.
Exports totaled US$ 2.826 billion, corresponding to a daily average of US$ 565.2 million, while imports amounted to US$ 1.751 billion, for a daily average of US$ 350.2 million.
So far this year, exports stand at US$ 89.546 billion, and imports, US$ 55.8 billion, yielding a trade surplus of US$ 33.746 billion.
Official Help
With the technical support of the Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Brazilian exporters will be better prepared to meet international technical standards, thus reducing losses and expediting purchases and sales.
Firms will be able to consult the Internet to check whether their products comply with international norms and market demands, against the background of growing international trade stimulated by market liberalization.
According to the Ministry, the criteria for products to be imported and sold are set by foreign governments or the importers themselves. The Ministry plans to publicize the regulations, directives, and technical norms that determine minimal standards for product acceptance.
The orientation provided by the Ministry suggests that "products that satisfy the most rigorous norms will naturally be acceptable in countries and markets where the norms are less strict." Technical requirements are generally related to questions of health, security, environment, and social responsibility.
The consultation system was launched on Saturday, October 8, in São Paulo. The Ministry’s export incentive policy includes various other services, such as the Progex (Export Generation Program), backed by the federal government, state research institutes, and the Sebrae (Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service), which offers analyses of adaptations needed in products or production processes, as well as tests and trials.
The Exporter Alert, the information system run by the Inmetro (National Institute of Measurements, Norms, and Industrial Quality, linked to the Ministry of Development), also alerts exporters when a country notifies the World Trade Organization about a new requirement.
Agência Brasil