trade – Infinite Unknown

BRASILIA, Brazil: Brazil and Argentina are ready to stop using U.S. dollars to trade goods between them.

Brazil’s president tells the Buenos Aires-based Clarin newspaper that exports and imports between the two nations will be bought and sold in local currency – reals and pesos.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva did not say when the measure would take effect.

Silva says the move will boost bilateral trade, which reached $US17.6 billion so far this year through July.

During that time, Brazil sold more to Argentina than it bought, building a US$3 billion trade surplus.

Silva and Argentine President Cristina Fernandez plan to sign the deal in Brasilia on Monday. It was first proposed two years ago.

Published: September 7, 2008

Source: Herald Tribune

Governments across the developing world are scrambling to boost farm imports and restrict exports in an attempt to forestall rising food prices and social unrest.

Saudi Arabia cut import taxes across a range of food products on Tuesday, slashing its wheat tariff from 25 per cent to zero and reducing tariffs on poultry, dairy produce and vegetable oils.

On Monday, India scrapped tariffs on edible oil and maize and banned exports of all rice except the high-value basmati variety, while Vietnam, the world’s third biggest rice exporter, said it would cut rice exports by 11 per cent this year.

The moves mark a rapid shift away from protecting farmers, who are generally the beneficiaries of food import tariffs, towards cushioning consumers from food shortages and rising prices.

Brazil, Argentina drop dollar for bilateral trade

Rush to restrict trade in basic foods