The Ministry of Agriculture carried out 25 high-level international missions in 2019 and supported participation in major international fairs. The result of this work was the opening of 26 new markets for products exported to 16 countries, representing opportunities for access to an estimated market of almost US $ 9 billion per year.

Mercosur Agreement – European Union

At a historic moment, expected 20 years ago, Mercosur and the European Union signed on 28 June in Brussels the trade agreement between the two blocs. The agreement will modernize and increase the competitiveness of Brazilian agriculture. With it, 82% of Brazilian agricultural exports will enter Europe with zero tariff in ten years. Prior to its entry into force, the agreement must be approved by the parliaments of the countries of the European Union and Mercosur.

Mercosur and EFTA Agreement

In August, negotiations for the free trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), a bloc made up of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, were concluded in Buenos Aires. Negotiations between the two blocks were launched in January 2017 and concluded after ten rounds. The agreement will provide preferential access to the main agricultural products exported by Brazil, through the granting of tariff free access, or through quotas and other types of partial concessions. Some of the sectors that will benefit from the deal are beef, chicken, corn, soybean meal, sugarcane molasses, honey, roasted coffee, fruit and fruit juices.

Brics Agriculture Ministers Meeting

Brics Agriculture Ministers (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) met in Bonito (MS) in September. At the end of the meeting, the representatives of the five countries signed the Bonito Charter, with 27 items that reiterate their commitment to cooperation in the agricultural area. Ministers affirmed the potential to enhance collaboration in the areas of food production, food safety and environmental safety. During the meeting, Minister Tereza Cristina defended rules in international trade that allow equity between developed and developing countries.

Melon to China

In November, Brazil signed an agreement with China that enables the export of melons to the Asian country. In return, the Chinese may sell pear to the Brazilian market. The health protocols were signed after a bilateral meeting between Presidents Jair Bolsonaro and Xi Jinping, at the XI Brics Summit in Brasilia. Minister Tereza Cristina attended the meeting. The deal is symbolic because it is the first understanding with China about fruit.

Source: MAPA / Comex do Brasil