Brasília - Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan, says that the Brazilian government will seek to negotiate with Chinese authorities for voluntary restrictions on Chinese imports. Furlan, who is scheduled to visit China this month, made the announcement after talks with Paulo Pereira da Silva, the president of the Força Sindical labor union.

According to Pereira da Silva, Chinese imports threaten various industrial sectors. He has joined representatives of the textile and toy industries in calling for safeguards because there has been a 229% increase in Chinese goods entering Brazil since 2002.

Translator: Allen Bennett