Brazil received yesterday a thumbs-up sign regarding its candidacy for the presidency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from one of its most important partners in the Group of 20, Nigeria.
The G-20, established in the context of the WTO’s Doha Round negotiations, in 2003, is a coalition that includes large developing countries, and its objective is to liberalize international agricultural trade.
The Brazilian Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, says that he heard “very positive things” from his Nigerian counterpart, Olu Adeniji, during their meetings on Monday.
“We shall maintain our unity in the G-20. When you talk about bread, you’re talking about butter,” affirmed the Nigerians, according to Amorim, when they discussed the candidacy of Ambassador Luiz Felipe Seixas Correa for the post of director-general of the WTO.
Correa currently acts as head of the Brazilian delegation to the World Trade Organization. The election should take place in the first half of this year.
Amorim said he was satisfied with the meetings in Abuja, capital of Nigeria.
“It is a country with which we had not yet met under closer circumstances in this Administration.”
He announced that a joint commission composed of representatives of the two countries should get together still this semester to look for ways to increase trade exchanges.
According to the Minister, the Nigerians are interested in acquiring from Brazil such items as buses, manioc processing machines, and naval equipment, among others.
According to the Brazilian entrepreneurs who are part of the mission, the problem remains the matter of funding. Nigerian importers currently owe Brazilians more than US$ 100 million.
The Africans disagree, but international forums have already endorsed the Brazilian contentions.
Translation: David Silberstein
Agência Brasil
