Brasília – The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has concluded Brazil’s sixth trade policy revision with praise to the practices implemented by the country. In the statement, the organisation pointed out how the government faced the impacts of the international crisis and the advances in diversification of foreign trade. Also praised were the efforts to fight poverty and reducing inequality of income and unemployment.
In the text, however, there is a warning about the need to pay attention to protectionist measures. To the president of the session, Choi Seokyoung, it is necessary to “improve” questions that involve tariffs, taxes and imports, customs procedures and licensing (of imports), as is the case with mechanisms for stimulation and credit programmes.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations stated that the revision of the trade policy is a regular exercise that involves the 157 WTO members. What varies is the frequency of revisions, as the process depends on participation of each member (country) in world trade. In the case of Brazil, revisions take place every four years. To the Itamaraty, the objective of the revision is to “increase transparency and joint cooperation” of members of the organisation.
The Brazilian delegation was led by ambassador Paulo Estivallet de Mesquita, director general of the Economic Department at the Itamaraty, and counsel minister Marcia Donner Abreu, who is the Brazilian representative at the WTO and several technicians.
*Translated by Mark Ament
