Brazilian industry claims Mercosur is ‘paralyzed’ and blasts Argentina’s ‘illegal barriers’ on trade
Brazil’s powerful manufacturers’ lobby openly criticized the “illegal barriers” imposed by the government of President Cristina Fernandez on Brazilian produce, and also lashed at President Dilma Rousseff for her administration’s “permissive attitude” towards Buenos Aires, a position that has “paralyzed Mercosur”.
“Argentina continues to impose illegal barriers to trade with its Mercosur partners”, claimed the head of Sao Paulo Federation of Industries (FIESP) Foreign Trade Council, Rubens Barbosa.
The former Brazilian ambassador in Washington also made the criticism extensive to President Rousseff for her administration’s “permissive attitude towards Buenos Aires” in what he described as a “strategic patience” from Brasilia to avoid diplomatic tensions with a very important trade partner.
In an article under the heading of “The state of the world 2013” the FIESP top official besides retaking the repeated questionings of the Argentine government position regarding foreign trade, including with its Mercosur partners, again underlines the difficulties and ‘illegal barriers’ faced by Brazilian businesspeople.
Barbosa insists that Mercosur remains ‘paralyzed’ and has shown no advances towards and understanding on trade liberalization and the opening of the Argentine market for Brazilian produce.
Next March Cristina Fernandez and Dilma Rousseff are scheduled to hold their next bilateral meetings, this time in the Patagonian city of El Calafate where the Argentine leader has her summer home.
Argentina and Brazil hold top level meetings twice a year to address bilateral issues such as trade, investments and regional politics.
Argentine ambassador in Brasilia Luis Maria Kreckler said that a preparatory meeting will be held at the end of February with an ‘open agenda’, which will be followed by the summit, ‘most probably March 4 in El Calafate, Santa Cruz province. The last bilateral top level meeting took place in Brasilia last December.








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Barbosa insists that Mercosur remains ‘paralyzed’ and has shown no advances towards and understanding on trade liberalization and the opening of the Argentine market for Brazilian produce.
Argentina woke the 'sleeping giant' next door.
Now what????
Seriously this time: Now what???
:-D
Surprise, surprise.
Don't forget the Freemasons too, they are obviously behind it all
Sheesh he is over the bend.
make your mind up, which is it? People or Countries?
(I thought you never forgot anyway?)
(Crikey - a typo too!)
/em shocked
The truth is that terminally bitter, malcontented, frustrated, social outcasts will always gravitate towards conspiracy theories when they cannot stomach the truth. They are ripe for manipulation by organisations such as La Campora because they give them an excuse to avoid personal responsibility for anything.
CFKC is responsible for causing this criticism by believing she can do anything she wishes without consequence. She has damaged the Argentine economy, not some foreigner controlling a satellite with a wok on top of a building in Europe.
The former Brazilian ambassador in Washington also made the criticism extensive to President Rousseff for her administration’s “permissive attitude towards Buenos Aires” in what he described as a “strategic patience” from Brasilia to avoid diplomatic tensions with a very important trade partner.
We have one too in Uruguay, he is called Pepe and unfortunately he's the President - but not for long.
No one has to work against you - you are making an excellent job of it on your own.
Taxes need to be reduced for domestic industry to work, borders need to be open to allow trade, and certain people need to be publicly scalped. We're at risk of backsliding into a horrible situation to where everyone will start experiencing to at least some extent the bitter taste of poverty. Well, except certain people that buy 4 Gucci outfits a day, and get a new plastic surgery every month, plus travel via limo or private jet.
The import taxes are theft by the state if ever there was. If that 50% tax actually did some good like in Scandanavian countries that historically have high taxes then fair enough but what is the situation in Argentina? 25% inflation with no signs of going down, $ --> peso going up up up.... No investment in innovation. nothing. Most of it is going n the the pocket of the ridiculous state bureaucracy and politicians pockets for -services-
”Call it what you want. I base my opininons on the actions of people/countries.
If that was the case Argentina should have been put out of it's f.....g misery along time ago, a trouble causing grand standing bunch of idiots who blame anyone for there own downfalls except for themself.,
@8 You should be careful. If we did the same thing, you'd be dead!
@13 Don't be ridiculous. They are RIGHT. See how the United States has undermined them by voting against further loans of money they have no intention of repaying. See how the United Kingdom has tricked them by refusing to give up a British territory. And even fighting, and winning, a war. See how Chile has acted against them by putting its interests first. Ditto Paraguay. See how Canada and New Zealand also act against them. And France, with its own South American territories. And Spain, from whom they stole. Just look at the Caribbean countries that undermine them by accepting British-flagged cruise liners. And Uruguay that likes to maintain links with the Falkland Islands. So many anti-argie countries. Nosy should keep it up. I can see him as a new latino Mussolini. But, just to be on the safe side, keep the meathooks and piano wire handy!
@17 No, no, no. Isolation IS the answer. Remember that, with isolation, comes the inability to buy or sell anything. And the new diet is beef, fish and soy. Raw. Can't buy energy. The whole world is within the argie border. No popping over the border to buy electrical goods in Chile. Ditto, holidays in Uruguay. Would it be 5 years before they were begging to be allowed out?
@19 They are only trying to be themselves. We must allow them self-determination because that's what we believe in. But we don't have to let their self-determination affect others. So, isolate 'em. Lock 'em in. Go around the world scooping up argies and taking them home. Erect huge towers so we can watch how they get on. But no argie to be allowed out. No communication, by any means, with the rest of the world. No notes, letters, phones, emails, internet, radio, pigeon messages. No aid, even if they are dying. Minimum 5 years.
Toby do you hate the Brazilians for laying off Rgs or that your Prez has restricted Vale's ability to repatriate their profits and that is why they are closing up shop?
Actions have Reactions. too bad your idiot Gov't doesn't understand that.
The funny thing is the EU will pretty much do that to you! With the statements by France and Germany (no a-la-carte), basically they are saying in diplomatic terms honestly we are through with you UK, don't give a shit if you stay or leave...
What funniest of all is that outside the EU the UK will still have to abide to every single regulation and policy the EU takes, otherwise there goes your economy... let's look at UK trade in 2011, the latest with availabe stats:
www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/feb/24/uk-trade-exports-imports
Germany 12% (up 17%)
France 8% (up 14%)
Netherlands 8% (up 9%)
Ireland 6% (up 5.7%)
Belgium 5.5% (UP 19%)
Italy 4% (up 15%)
And Italy being at the bottom of the top-trading partners still sucks in more UK products than any of the mighty commonwealth nations Australia, Canada, South Africa, etc... and more than China.
And notice the double digit growth of those export partners.
The British are a bunch of ungrateful divas, who moan and grunt about how they are doing the EU a favor by being members and how the rest of Europe should be grateful to the UK... and never talk about the fact that over 40% of UK exports go to the EU, tariff free!!!!!!!!
Yet even with these apodictic charts, they still believe that leaving the EU will hurt the EU more, and that the UK can make up the trade drop with great commonweath powers like Trinidad and Tobago and Botswana.
This is why the Germans, French, and Italians are saying na na na nah... good-bye.
hahahahahahahaha
CFKC wants all the profits from foreign investment or nothing. OK, nothing.
You FOOL!!!!!
You do know that in Mendoza we have a very diversified economy and that mining (ex-oil) is basically irrelevant!! Mendoza is a rich province, as such it never has been totally open to mining like poorer provinces in the north that need the sector to develop... Mendoza has many environment sensitive industries from wine to agriculture to organic to tourism... as such, and given it is a fairly prosperous province with a large middle class, there is a big environmental lobby.
And where is the link to prove this?
This Vale thing is OLD news. Vale and the green lobby have been fighting in the courts for years, and it has nothing to do with the diplomatic situation. Read the news before you post, loser. hahahaha.
Mendoza already had lay offs of 16000 people due to losing the preferential treatment of imports from the USA. 20000 families is a lot that's at least 80,000 people directly affected.
I also saw that fruit/vegy exports are way down so probably more layoffs coming?
and it is only going to get worse
Hahahaha, you comparing the UK's economic situation to Germany'????
HAHAHAHAHAHA.
And where is Ireland, Iceland, and Sweden. They aslo had huge crisis in 08, 09, and Sweden in 1992 that few know about or remember but was very damaging to Sweden (it in fact as yet to fully recover, it used to be the richest scandinavian country and now it still lags Denmark and of course way under oil-rich Norway).
There is no anglo-saxon - PIGS split. There is a Germany-rest of the EU split... and Germany is not as great as people think. I watch the news... there is huge underemployment masked under the Hartz menial jobs program, labor reform... and many of their exports are done in the Czech Republic, Poland, etc.
www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/08/us-germany-jobs-idUSTRE8170P120120208
And remember Germany underperformed the rest of Europe for a decade, when it was called Europe's sick child. A lot of the growth has been catching up plus low wages and huge underemployment.
@27
No link, no nothing. Typical.
If you say so, the numbers don't corroborate that, Mr. Goebbels.
Sig Heil! 14 88
The decision It is followed with great concern in Malargüe, and home to most workers in the province of Mendoza and the Casa Rosada. It happens that President Cristina Kirchner announced in July in person, by the global CEO of Vale, Murilo Ferreira, the continuity of the project, which in 2012 had been questioned by the official decision to restrict the rotation of foreign exchange , and obligation to settle mining exports in the country.
www.ieco.clarin.com/empresas/Suspenden-proyecto-US-millones-Mendoza_0_853114745.html
Gotcha! So there were no 4,200 layoffs. You can't layoff people that were never even employed.
hahahahaha... loser. But at least you played the game and didn't weasel out. Point to you there.
It decided to extend the suspension of activities, which started on December 21 last. The move affects about 4,200 workers , which, for now, continue to collect his salary. Originally scheduled recess until 7 January. Then it stretched until 4 February. But apparently continue.
You think Vale could find all the workers there? The vast majority of those workers come from other provinces or countries. It affects Mendoza very little if any. And the wealth is still there, so if anything the fact it is not being mined now is a bit of rainy day resources for tomorrow.
Bahahaha you are delusional!
Like your country is so flush with cash they don't need every centavo they can get their grubby thieving hands on.
Get off the internet and get help - for your own good.
You know they are not walling in the slums because they are pretty and safe.
No, only a stain in your goebbelish mind. Given that the UK refugeed far many more nazi members after the war, it is even worse that given that your ancestors suffered so much from Nazi bombing, your government turns right around and welcomes them as heros.
No stain will ever be as large as the UK stains, or those of any other European nation or the USA.
@37
Mendoza has never been needing of intensive mining for its economy to grow.
Needing every centavo is the reason in your country rivers manage to catch fire, and thousands and thousands die every year from toxins and cancer.
@38
Oh, yes, and we base you objectivity on what, your word? hahahaha. You are delusional for pretending to pass as anything but a biased laolien.
@40
Escalation of violence? It's natural the US embassy would be an expert spotting such trends, afterall your country is now known as the Somalia of the West.
So, which college is being shot up today?
Interestingly, the people of Mendoza blame all the crime there on Chileans creeping over the border. LOL.
Mendoza has never been needing of intensive mining for its economy to grow.
The expectations for growth must be low then. Mining is irrelevant in Mendoza precisely because it has not been properly developed. Regions don't exploit mining because they are poor or rich, they exploit mining because there are (a) minerals in the ground, and (b) the technology.
The region of Antofagasta has a GDP per head of close to USD 40,000
Where I live we export wine, fruit and have tourism - the GDP per head is less than half Antofagasta.
Besides the salaries that the mining generates in its own localities, it also generates royalties in gov't coffers, down-stream industry and research/innovation.
To leave mineral wealth in the ground for a rainy day is not smart. Changes in technology can make a valuable mineral almost worthless overnight (e.g. Chilean saltpeter industry).
...
Back on topic:
Mr Barbosa is right, the Brazilian gov't needs to get tough with Argie shirking.
Argentina didn't scare me until a lot of my neighbors starting having problems with night time commando assaults, kidnappings, boxing in your car etc. and we had loads of guards everywhere and lived behind gates! All of that and the neighborhood was still having problems!
I know it has gotten much much worse over the last few years.
I know it has become worse over the years that I have been visiting and I cannot see it improving anytime soon.
There is much I like about Argentina but some very dodgy cities aint one of them.
I watched something on a popular amateur/security video program there and was pretty shocked at the violence. It seems its not uncommon to be passing through a street and a gang sometimes of a hundred or more will just pick people off like piranhas knocking them down and stealing their bikes, clothes and valuables. Often they are left there bloodied and bewildered in the middle of the road, just in their trousers....
Even seemingly innocuous offices had their street doors locked. Police were on just about every corner at night but what struck me most were the beggars.
I don't walk around any city alone at night.
First it was South America against the evil Anglos, then it was Argentina, now its Mendoza, next it will be his barrio then itll be him left bawling on the roof of his parent's house like a mad dictator how everyone's got it wrong and he is right.
Good observation and very funny.
His arguments are always the same and usually revolve around him.
They have no more merit, or any different content or relevance, than they did 6 months ago.
Pure denial and self-congratulation.
You're right, Tobers - the flood waters are lapping at his toes.
I have never seen that anywhere else I have traveled.
Wowwww!
Oh there is nothing more amusing than watching foreigners talk so much crap about another country, especially when fucking no one is forcing them to either come back or set foot in it in the first place.
We could find it more amusing that some people can't leave their government created, in the first place. Or that some people don't know that it is possible to live without fear, elsewhere, but refuse to accept it.
However, we don't get any joy out of the situation ordinary Arg. citizens are resigned to as their lot in life.
You could open your mind, but its easier for you to sit tight and continue your Denial.
Sad for you.
What fear, what repression, what resignation... that is exactly what I am here. To fight such pathetic travesty of truth.
I certainly wouldn't go for vacation any longer.
“Oh there is nothing more amusing than watching
a butt hurt, whining, brain washed, ill informed adolescent getting nerd rage!! you mad bro :)
why even Brazil says so..lol.
I like visiting Argentina and have good reason to go there. One lone malcontent in Mendoza wouldn't convince me not to go there.
Oh there is nothing more amusing than watching foreigners talk so much crap about another country, especially when fucking no one is forcing them to either come back or set foot in it in the first place.
Says the person that has never travelled and always runs and finds something off topic from someone's country to attack with. Why are you attacking yourself here?
Anyway back to the article which Tobias doesn't want us to discuss because he quite obviously can't.
I'm wondering how long it might be before Brazil (being a much larger economy) decides to unhitched itself from Mercosur (and yes Tobias I know autarky autarky autarky... you can't argue so this question ain't aimed at you).
Peru and Colombia are offering much better investment returns in mining and higher growth with more stable to government. Funnily enough it is the non-Mercosur members in South America that are more attractive for trade and investment.
Argentina is holding back Brasil's development .. big time.
Argentine protectionism is probably only an annoyance to Brazilian industry. A middle income country of 40 million souls is not exactly a huge market for Brazil.
More important is the reason behind the “strategic patience” that Mr Barbosa talks about. Now that the truth commission in Brazil has started to shed light on Brazil's leading role in orchestrating the activities of South American military dictators in the 70s and 80s, you can see that Brazil has form in seeking a pivotal role in the strategic affairs of the continent.
The loss wouldn't be covered under insurance and could bankrupt the exporter.
Everyone has reached their limits with this nutty dictator.
It shouldn't take much longer for it all to come tumbling down
I agree it would be more than an annoyance for the Brazilian businesses that sell to Argentina, but in the bigger picture Argentina can't be such an important market for Brazil, so why tolerate it?
If any place in the USA lost electricity every time the temp went over 90 heads would be rolling!
Gads what an awful place. Thank goodness I don't live there any longer.
Get out of here. Do you read what you write? You make it sound as if Argentina is some sort of open air Dachau.
What fear, what repression, what resignation... that is exactly what I am here. To fight such pathetic travesty of truth.
Let's review some posts and stories that have been reported on in the last 6 months on MercoPress,
Repression:
- I expect that you cannot travel because of Currency Controls - You are not allowed access to enough US $$$ to purchase holidays outside of AR. Peso is becoming more devalued so travel is expensive outside AR.
- freedom of speech (freedom of thought) is threatened by Government propaganda and mis-information campaigns, instigation of a Class War, intimidation by tax investigators, excessive taxation, intimidation of high-ranking Judiciary, intimidation of the people and businesses by La Campora thugs, and attempts to silence or subvert the popular media like CLARIN group.
- Did I miss anything?
Fear:
- ordinary businesses are barricaded behind locked doors - trusted customers must be buzzed in.
- gated communities with armed Security
- citizens are expressed, carjacked and forced to empty accounts at ATM's
- citizens swarmed on the streets and robbed
- night time Commando Assaults
- OMG, razor-wire and high security in Mendoza!!
Resignation:
- a population that considers it normal and acceptable to do business behind locked doors
- a population that believes there is no alternative to their poor economy, rapid inflation, and declining standard of living.
- a population that feels there is no point in supporting an opposition party to CFK and the Peronists, because it will fail, it will be no better, etc.
The Kelpers will tell me that there is much that I have missed.
The other Trolls will point out that some of these things happen in other countries too.
Yes, they do - and it is justifiably criticised, and that does not mean that any or all these things are acceptable in Argentina.
Hmmmm
If that 50% tax actually did some good like in Scandanavian countries that historically have high taxes then fair enough
Precisely.
I have just receved a treatment in a Danish hospital - 100% tax financed.
The same treatment would have cost me close to 50 000 pesos in Argentina, I asked when I lived there last year.
Treatment in a public Arg. hospitals would have been for free, except they lack both machinery and medicine because of lack of money.
Talk about misspent taxes in Arg.!
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