Mexico, Brazil Looking to Boost Trade Relations Without Free-trade Pacts

Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Jose Antonio Meade visited his Brazilian counterpart, Antonio Patriota, with whom he agreed to promote a series of business meetings to boost bilateral trade.

Meade told a press conference that, on the topic of trade, “right now that is Mexico’s goal,” but that at present there is no intention to negotiate free-trade agreements with Brazil.

“There’s a mutual interest in strengthening trade relations” and “we believe it can be achieved with business meetings by sectors,” the Mexican foreign relations secretary said.

Patriota said that those meetings could initially bring together businessmen in the energy and cosmetics sectors, both having been identified as having a strong business potential.

At the same time, Meade and Patriota said they have agreed to “facilitate” meetings between representatives of Mexican state oil monopoly Pemex and Brazilian state-controlled Petrobras, just as Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto had requested in his interest to know more about the experiences of the Brazilian company.

Both foreign ministers hailed the elimination of visas for Mexican and Brazilian citizens for visits to each other’s countries for a maximum of 180 days, in effect since Thursday, and agreed that it will stimulate mutual tourism and will become another business opportunity.

Published in Latino Daily News