Brasília, July 2, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Argentina announced today the end of its embargo on Brazilian beef imports. The Ministery of Agriculture's Secretary of Plant and Animal Protection, Maçao Tadano, informed that the Argentinean embargo, which began June 23, caused little damage to Brazil in terms of the value and quantity of the country's exports. In the first quarter of 2004, Brazilian beef exports to Argentina amounted to only US$ 11 thousand.

"The greatest harm the embargo could have caused would be a blemish on relations between Brazil and Argentina, but fortunately this did not occur," Tadana explained.

The Ministry of Agriculture received the news of the suspension of the embargo from the president of the Argentinean National Agricultural Food Health and Quality Service (Senasa), José Nestor Amaya, and the Argentinean Subsecretary of Agriculture, Javier Urquiza.

Argentinean imports of Brazilian beef will be resumed at midnight today.

Reporter: Bianca Estrella
Translator: David Silberstein