Luciene Cruz      Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – 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 $10.43 billion to Argentina. This year, during the same period, the value of goods sold to Argentina is $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 $2 billion to China during the same period.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - Exportações para a Argentina diminuem 16% no primeiro semestre