Kátia Abreu calls for closer ties with US through dialogue
A ministra da Agricultura, Katia Abreu, fala à imprensa após reunião com a presidenta Dilma Rousseff, no Palácio do Planalto (José Cruz/Agência Brasil)
Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Kátia Abreu argued on Thursday (Oct. 15) for the expansion of commerce with the US through dialogue and what she termed “harmonization of processes”. In her speech, which marked the beginning of the Brazil-US Dialogue on Agriculture, in the morning at at the headquarters of Brazil's Agriculture and Livestock Confederation (CNA), Abreu described the two nations as “giants in the production of food and in exports,” adding they should not be seen as adversaries.
“On the contrary. We have complementary duties, mutual responsibilities towards global food safety, and we must harmonize our dialogue more and more, starting with the processes of import and export,” the minister said.
Abreu mentioned the fresh beef deal signed last June during President Rousseff's visit, in Washington. The minister went on to refer to the agreement as “a milestone,” adding, “We've got everything ready to sell our meat to that country for the first time.”
The ministry noted that the Farm Bill, the US law passed last year, brings “much concern” to Brazilian agribusiness, especially with regard to subsidies. According to a survey conducted by the CNA, should the law came into force now, the price of soy would drop 2.7%, leading to losses totaling $1.1 billion for Brazil's commodity. Nonetheless, Kátia Abreu praised the crop security policy as laid forth in the Farm Bill, which will serve as a standard for Brazil's Pluriannual Agriculture Law.
“We'd like to simplify our legislation and provide producers with predictability and stability. The high point will be the crop insurance, a remarkable item in the American law.”
On the Transpacific agreement (TPP), which brings together 12 countries in the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, the minister said that Brazil needs to “review its position so as not to find itself isolated, detached from the world. I hope changes may take place and provide Brazil with a little more freedom to reach commercial, bilateral, and comprehensive free-trade agreements.”
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Kátia Abreu calls for closer ties with US through dialogue
