In a press release, April 4, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Relations made a comment about the United States decision to postpone, until September, its analysis about Brazilian policy to combat piracy.
For the Ministry, the most appropriate measure at this moment would be to conclude the process instead of postponing it.
“For the vast and deep level of the information offered to the US government, Brazilian government considers that, at this moment, the most appropriate measure would be the conclusion of the revision process of the General System of Preferences granted to Brazil, which would reflect, furthermore, the positive dialogue and cooperation between the two countries,” says the release.
If the analysis were to be negative at this moment, Brazil could be excluded from the General System of Preferences, which would cause Brazilian products to be taxed.
They are currently exported to the United States at a zero rate. Since the analysis process was only postponed, this is still a valid possibility.
Since 2000, when US entities for the protection of author’s rights requested the review of benefits granted to Brazil, under allegations of “inadequate and inefficient” protection of author’s rights in the country, Brazilian government has sent several documents to the US government about its activities in the combat of piracy and the protection of intellectual property.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations recalls that these efforts have been made “in a permanent and systematic manner, stressing the establishment of the National Council to Combat Piracy and Crimes against Intellectual Property.”
Translation: Andréa Alves
Agência Brasil
