US and Brazil reach subsidy agreement
Progress has been made in world trade talks this week as both the United States and Brazil have agreed to be flexible on farm subsidies and import tariffs.
The Doha talks began in November 2001 with the aim of giving developing nations improved access to developed nations’ agriculture markets, as well as other industries such as textiles.
These talks have been notoriously slow off the mark but reports this week suggest that things are finally moving forward.
President Bush attributed the recent progress to a "shared commitment to a successful round of trade talks", according to Reuters.
"On the Doha round, Brazil is willing to do whatever is necessary so that we reach an agreement," President Lula said in a press conference.
Brazil’s economic position has improved dramatically over recent years, as the country has become a main player in the biofuel industry in particular.
Goldman Sachs Global Economics has predicted that Brazil, together with the other BRIC economies – Russia, India and China – could become larger than the G6 in terms of US dollars, making Brazil an increasingly popular place for real estate investment.
