In the first half of
this year Brazilian imports to Argentina rose over
75 percent, compared to last year. Exports of washing machines
climbed 176 percent, refrigerators 126 percent and stoves 121
percent. In response to that, the Argentinean government decided
to impose restrictions on imports of Brazil’s home appliances.
by: Liésio
Pereira
Brazil will take advantage of the 26th Mercosur Summit, which is
now underway, to attempt to resolve the impasse created by Argentina when
that country decided to impose restrictions on imports of Brazilian home appliances.
Argentina has announced
limits on the importation of "white line" goods, and a surtax of
21 percent on TV sets produced in the Manaus Zona Franca.
Minister of Development,
Industry and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan, says he will meet with the
Argentine Minister of Economy, Roberto Lavagna, to discuss the matter.
Meanwhile, a meeting has
been scheduled for July 14, in Buenos Aires, which will bring together government
authorities and representatives of the business sector for further discussions.
In the first half of this
year Brazilian imports to Argentina rose over 75 percent, compared to last
year. Exports of washing machines climbed 176 percent, refrigerators 126 percent
and stoves 121 percent.
Buenos Aires says it fears
an "invasion" of Brazilian goods and sees a threat to its economy
in the possibility. The Argentine Industrial Union (UIA) has strongly supported
the government’s decision to impose restrictions on Brazilian imports.
The dispute occurs as
Brazil is set to take over the presidency of Mercosur (the presidency rotates
every six months; Brazil substitutes Argentina).
Brazil Might Retaliate
Although Argentina suspended
its restrictions on imports of Brazilian electric-electronic goods, minister
of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan, declared
that the issue would be dealt with at the Mercosur summit.
Brazil’s Foreign Minister,
Celso Amorim, says he is confident a solution will be found. "We have
managed to resolve problems before," he declared.
"I spoke with Argentina’s
Minister of Economy, Roberto Lavagna, and he said the restrictions have been
suspended so the private sector can work out a solution while we discuss the
matter at the summit,"
Furlan added that the
21 percent surtax on Brazilian-made TVs was under study in order to see whether
or not it was legal. "We discussed this matter with Argentine authorities
so as to avoid a rash of sanctions on their part, which could cause Brasilia
to do things which would not be constructive for Mercosur."
Furlan pointed out that
this year was shaping up to be the first nine years that Brazil would have
a trade surplus with Argentina.
Brazil’s Turn
Brazil is taking over
as temporary president of Mercosur. The rotating presidency changes every
six months. Brazil’s challenge will be to strengthen the economic block and
increase trade with the rest of the world.
At the 25th
Mercosur Summit, last year in Montevideo, the presidents of Brazil, Argentina,
Paraguay and Uruguay approved a timetable for targets to be reached between
2004 and 2006.
President Luiz Inácio
Lula da Silva now has to put the timetable into practice and get the action
plans off the ground so Mercosur can find solutions to the main problems it
faces.
One of the first targets
is the consolidation of the customs union joining Mercosur members so as to
permit the free circulation of goods under mutually agreed upon common rules.
This year’s summit is
expected to officialize the creation of a Permanent Review Board (Tribunal
Permanente de Revisão) which will have the final word on internal Mercosur
trade disputes.
At the moment, such disputes
often wind up in international forums, such as the World Trade Organization.
Another target is to improve
the block’s Common External Tariffs (TEC), which consists of import surtaxes
levied on goods from outside the member nations.
Liésio Pereira works for Agência Brasil (AB), the official
press agency of the Brazilian government. Comments are welcome at lia@radiobras.gov.br.
Translated
from the Portuguese by Allen Bennett.
