Brazil’s Lula and UK’s Blair See Eye to Eye on Farm Subsidies

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is scheduled to have a working meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, during the President’s State visit to the United Kingdom, which will end Thursday, March 9.

According to the UK Ambassador in Brazil, Peter Colecott, one of the main issues to be discussed is the current round of negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO), expected to be concluded this year.

Negotiations are not advancing because of the European Union’s resistance to open its agricultural market to developing nations, and to eliminate the subsidies their governments give to local producers. This practice affects negatively products prices in the international market.

"Blair wants an outcome that helps, in special, the less developed nations. In this sense, Lula and Blair have common interests", said the Ambassador.

He affirmed that Blair agrees on having a meeting of leaders to push negotiations forward, as Lula proposed. Details of this meeting should also be discussed in London, along with subjects such as world poverty and climate changes.

"Politically, Lula and Blair are members of the Progressive Governance Movement, which implies similar and complementary values and views," concluded Colecott.

Both governments will sign, during Lula’s trip, cooperation agreements in the areas of education, hunger combating, science and technology, health, sustainable development promotion, climate change, and artistic production.

A committee will be created to stimulate bilateral trading, which currently amounts to US$ 4 billion per year. And during a meeting with executives from large UK enterprises, discussions will be on "perspectives and difficulties, and what should be developed in Brazil to attract more investments," said Colecott.

Agência Brasil

Tags:

You May Also Like

Under the Gods’ Eyes

I arrived at the Pelourinho on Sunday night. The square exploded with the sound ...

While Sales of Domestic Cars in Brazil Fall by 2.8%, Imported Vehicles Jump 30%

The amount of domestically-made vehicles licensed in Brazil in 2011 dropped when compared to ...

Brazil’s Northeast: A Violated Land

The Brazilian Nordestino has long lived in a region under severe environmental stress, with ...

For Brazil and Neighbors, the FTAA Is a Recipe for Impoverishment Not Empowerment

As a result of vehement opposition from around Latin America, the Bush administration’s efforts ...

Brazil Won’t Raise Taxes, Promises Minister

Brazil’s Minister of Finance, Antonio Palocci, said that the government will pursue the commitment ...

Brazilian Amazon on fire

Brazil May Become the Saudi Arabia of Ethanol. Or the Iraq

Not everything that pretends to be sustainable truly is. Environmental and social concerns ("the ...

Brazil’s Health Minister Hints Patent Breaking for AIDS Drugs Can Be Averted

Brazil’s Minister of Health, Saraiva Felipe, says he expects to conclude negotiations in a ...

Brazil’s New Corruption Scandal Further Hurts Former President Lula’s Reputation

Dilma Rousseff, the president of Brazil, moved quickly and without considering political allies ordered ...

Subdued Chavez Waits for Brazil Vote on Venezuela’s Admission to Mercosur

The Brazilian Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee began this week to consider the official ...

Top Gun

CDs or Books by Keyword, Title or Author By Sonya Alexander There was a ...