France and six other countries expressed concern before the European Union about the competition consequences for the farm sector in the event of an agreement with Mercosur.
French resistance to the resumption of Mercosur European Union trade talks caused great disappointment among the block’s members, but Brazil believes it has a strong bargaining chip for a greater opening of the European agriculture market: the several billions US dollars fighter planes contract for the Brazilian Air Force.
France’s main farmers’ organization, FNSEA, called Wednesday on President Nicolas Sarkozy to pressure upon the European Community to impede the re-launching of negotiations for a free trade agreement with Mercosur
The European Commission (EC) has proposed to reactivate its negotiations with Mercosur, stagnant since 2004, with the objective of reaching an association agreement. In its weekly meeting, the EU executive decided to re-establish discussions with Mercosur since it considers “that an eventual pact could generate economic benefits for both parts,” according to an EC communiqué.
The Brazilian Government is expected to announce Wednesday a number of exports' stimulation measures in order to try to compensate the area which claims losses caused by the strong Brazilian currency exchange rate and the drop of global commerce.
Uruguay is pushing for a full Indian mission in its capital Montevideo, showcasing the country as the gateway to the region and to expand bilateral trade and economic relations, according to New Delhi reports.
New regulations, such as retailers’ requirement that fish must be certified as sustainable, and the impact of the global economic crisis are affecting the seafood industry, especially producers in developing nations, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization FAO.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) is meeting this week in Buenos Aires to examine technical and economic aspects of the international trade in fish and fishery products.
Uruguay is currently harvesting what is considered a record crop of soybean the ever expanding oil seed that as in neighbouring countries is taking over land from other exploitations and has made Mercosur the world’s leading producer and exporter.
Brazilian opposition presidential candidate Jose Serra—who leads in public opinion vote intention polls—reiterated his call for a more “flexible” Mercosur, effectively becoming a free trade area, because the current format limits Brazil’s sovereignty to sign agreements with other non member countries.