April 24, 2012

Brazil criticised Argentina's decision on pork imports

Brazil has slammed Argentina's decision on Brazilian pork import restrictions, threatening to put in place the same measures in response to Argentina, according to reports.

Brazil's Agriculture Minister, Mendes Ribeiro, said that if the restrictions, announced in February, remained in place, Brazil might take similar measures against Argentine exports.

According to the minister, 3,000 tonnes of Brazilian pork are still held up at the border due to the restrictions.

At the moment, negotiations are underway with meetings scheduled between Brazil's ambassador, Enio Cordeiro, and Argentina's Agriculture Minister, Norberto Yauhar.

"Our pork shipments need to be released, or we will start making it harder for Argentine products to enter Brazil and that's not good for either Brazil or Argentina, and it is not what President Dilma Rousseff wants," Ribeiro said.