São Paulo – The Commission for Economic Development, Industry and Trade of the Brazilian House of Representatives approved last Friday (22nd) the bill for a free-trade agreement between Mercosul and Egypt. According to information from the House, the deal provides for five ex-tariff categories and was passed on May 6th by the Commission for Constitution and Justice. The bill still requires reviewing from the Plenary of the House of Representatives.
The rapporteur for the project with the Commission for Economic Development, Antonio Balhmann (a member of the Ceará state chapter of party Pros) ruled favorably on the bill. In his remarks, he said the need for trade agreements is ever more “pressing.”
“The signing of this free-trade agreement between the Mercosul and the Arab Republic of Egypt must, however, be followed by several other agreements, to eliminate the hurdles preventing a more substantial increase in Brazilian international trade,” Balhmann asserted in his text on the matter. The bill for an agreement between Egypt and the Mercosul, which comprises Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, was signed in 2010.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
