Truckers Block Access to Brazil's Port of Santos; Seven Arrested

02/25/2015 - 10h10

The only viaduct that provides access for trucks to the terminals of port of Santos, located in the city of Santos, was blocked on Tuesday (24) by truck drivers' protests.
 
In Santos, some trucks were damaged enough to require towing. About 10 broken vehicles remain on the viaduct, waiting for a town truck and other 50 are standing idle or were abandoned.
 
There is no forecast for the end of the blockage.
 
The demonstrations and blockages have already reached 11 States.
 
In an attempt to put an end to the situation, the federal government will coordinate a meeting between trucker representatives and the business sector, as announced on Tuesday (24) by Minister Miguel Rossetto (General Secretariat of the Presidency).
 
At the meeting - that should take place in Brasilia on Wednesday (25) - the government will submit proposals on two other issues: the extension of the BNDES credit program called ProCaminhoneiro - which is already under review - and the regulation of rules governing trucking, already approved by Congress.
 
However, the high diesel price, one of the main complaints, is not up for discussion at this moment, said the Minister.
 
The Federal Court of Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais Federal Justice determined on Tuesday (24) that truckers should unblock federal highways.
 
The blockage is causing shortages in several cities, as in Loanda (Paraná).

They also threat the production of milk, soy and meat in Mato Grosso, Santa Catarina and Paraná. JBS enterprises and Aurora paralysed their production at some units.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI
 
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	Ernesto Rodrigues/Folhapress
	Truckers block access to Brazil's port of Santos