Brasília, 4/18/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Agriculture, Roberto Rodrigues, travels to the United States next week to negotiate exports of beef and chicken. He will meet US Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, on Wednesday.

Rodrigues said it is just not acceptable for the US to permit imports only of processed meats from Brazil. "We now have 83% of our 170 million heads of cattle free of foot and mouth disease with vaccination and have not had a case of the disease for two years. We have invested US$2 billion to reach this point. It is just not right for the US to refuse to import raw Brazilian meats," said the minister. (AB)