São Paulo – The Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC) opened this Friday (7th) a public consultation to the private sector about negotiations of trade agreements with nine countries: Cuba, Mexico, Tunisia, Canada, Lebanon and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which gathers Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway. According to the MDIC, in 2014 Brazilian exports to these countries totaled US$ 10 billion but their potential market, which adds up all their imports, go over US$ 1 trillion.<\/p>\n
This public consultation aims to assess the position of the private sector in relation to trade with these partners to, according to MDIC, “to guide the government’s work with the goal of expanding Brazilian exports”. The MDIC’s statement says that expanding trade agreements with other countries is one of the targets of the National Exports Plan, launched in June of this year. <\/p>\n
The Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex) of MDIC issued two notifications in the Official Federal Gazette that determine how the private sector can participate in the public consultation. The opinions about the negotiations of trade agreements must be made via a form, made available by Secex, and can only be made via associations or class entities.<\/p>\n
These negotiations now pertain to Mercosur, the economic bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Paraguay and Uruguay. The private sector can send their assessments about the negotiations with Lebanon, Tunisia, Canada and EFTA during 45 days starting September 22nd via email. With Mexico, Brazil is already dealing a bilateral agreement. With Cuba, the project is to expand the agreement already signed with Mercosur. In the case of these two countries, the private sector has 45 days, starting this Friday, to send their opinions.<\/p>\n
Service<\/strong><\/p>\n Further information at http:\/\/www.mdic.gov.br\/sitio\/interna\/interna.php?area=5&menu=1893&refr=1893<\/p>\n *Translated by Sérgio Kakitani<\/strong><\/p>\n