Brasília – Last week in Brasília, upon receiving representatives of the toy industry, which faces strong competition from Chinese products, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that in the current exchange rate war, Brazil champions free trade, as long as the domestic industry is not being harmed.
The visit of toy manufacturers was meant to celebrate the mark of 1 billion units made in the country, and the president was presented with a toy car.
"We are for free trade, we do not mean to create obstacles to imports, that is not what it is about. We just want the free trade to function properly, so that Brazilian enterprises are not harmed by unequal treatment, especially now that a certain exchange rate war is going on in the world," he said.
The president of the Brazilian Toy Manufacturers Association (Abrinq), Synésio Batista, complained about Chinese competition while speaking to journalists after the meeting with Lula and claimed that in spite of it, the Brazilian toy industry has managed to thrive.
"We have not shut down any factories for some years now, and local production remains steady. From 2003 until October this year, the 206 existing manufacturers and their 26,000 employees have produced 1 billion toys," said Synésio.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum