Brasília, July 24, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazil is beginning to show signs of recovery in its trade with Argentina. This is the assessment made by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI). According to a study of trade in the Mercosur, Brazil just registered its first trade surplus with its Argentinean neighbor in 41 months.

The surplus last month in trade between Brazil and Argentina amounted to US$ 34 million. According to a bulletin released today by the CNI, the figures on bilateral trade continue to motivate protests on the part of Argentinean businessmen, who are concerned about the invasion of Brazilian products. The two countries currently represent 80% of trade in the Mercosur.

According to data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex), exports of Brazilian products to Argentina doubled over the past six months. In comparison with the same period last year, these sales went from US$ 969 million to US$ 1.8 billion. (DAS)