Argentina, Brazil start new approach, hope to solve bilateral trade differences

Industry Secretary Eduardo Bianchi and his Brazilian counterpart Alessandro Teixeira began a bilateral approach in order to solve the trade conflict that sparked between the two Mercosur countries. They are scheduled to meet this Tuesday at 9 am. 

Both officials agreed on the need to stress “that both delegations are willing to solve every conflict arisen in the area of bilateral trade,” the Industry Ministry said in an official statement.

Along with Bianchi, External Trade Policy director Adrián Makuc, and Mercosur Institutional Affairs director Pablo Grinspun were part of the Argentine delegation, while Teixeira, Brazilian ambassador Enio Cordeiro, Deputy Secretary for South America Antonio Simoes and Foreign Trade Secretary Tatiana Prazeres spoke on behalf of Brazil. 

The meeting, which began at 4 pm and ended two hours later, had been agreed last week by Industry Minister Débora Giorgi and Brazilian Ambassador Enio Cordeiro last week.

On that same day, Brazil authorized the entry of about one thousand vehicles that had previously been denied entry at the border, while the Government House allowed for the entry of Brazilian-made products such as shoes, tires and batteries. 

Argentina is one of Brazil’s largest trade partners, with an estimated bilateral trade volume of US$33 billion in 2010, and a deficit of over US$4 billion for Argentina.