Esteio (RS), 9/8/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva says that "when the time is right," he will send congress a bill on transgenetic crops. In the meanwhile, he declared, the discussion should be more scientific and less ideological.

Lula described the discussion of the issue last week as the beginning of a serious examination of the question. "We need a decision that will be valid for the whole country," said the president.

As for trade, Lula said that countries in development had to unite in order to face the protectionism of richer nations. "We do not want pity from the rich nations. We want a level playing field so we can compete with them. If the world is supposed to have free trade, we will make world trade free," he declared.

With regard to tax reform, Lula said the problem with attempts to change tax legislation was that everyone wanted gains and no one would accept losses. "It is difficult to play a game that always has to end in a tie," said Lula. But he added that the fundamental objective remains to reduce the tax load on production and stop states from warring with each other.

Lula said that negotiations will be the trade mark of his administration. After getting social security and tax reform bills through congress, he said he would do the same with political and union reforms.

Last week Lula visited the Expointer 2003 (International Exposition of Animals) in Rio Grande do Sul. It was the first time in 18 years that a president visited the fair. In eight months in office, Lula pointed out that he has visited nine fairs. The reason, said the president, is the importance of the agrobusiness sector in exports, jobs, income and social inclusion. (AB)