11 Countries Still Have Restrictions against Brazilian Meat

03/24/2017 - 13h41

One day after stating that only China and Hong Kong were restricting the entrance of Brazilian meat in their territories, the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture said that 11 countries have suspended their purchases of meat from Brazil.

On the new list, in addition to the two Asian countries, Chile is the only major importer that still has restrictions on Brazilian meat. Chile was the seventh biggest buyer of Brazilian beef last year and the eighth top importer of pork.

The study disclosed by the government, however, does not include the United Arab Emirates, the fifth largest buyer of Brazilian chicken which, according to news agency Bloomberg, stopped imports from six Brazilian units on Thursday, March 23.

Also China, the third biggest buyer of Brazilian beef, gave harsh statements as it declared that expects "severe penalties" to be applied to the companies and persons allegedly involved in the scandal investigated by the Brazilian Federal Police's Carne Fraca operation.

Sun Jiwen, the spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Trade, said that China is very concerned about the Brazilian meat as Brazil is the main meat supplier to the Asian giant.

Jiwen's statement occurred before President Michel Temer said that he would speak to the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, on Thursday, March 23, to try to end China's embargo.

The list of countries that still maintain their embargo on Brazilian meat includes Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Algeria, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Qatar, Mexico and the Bahamas. Jamaica, Trinidad and Saint Vincent are recalling the Brazilian product and have suspended new purchases.

Mexico, which buys chicken from Brazil, has applied a preventive suspension. And Qatar is inspecting all the meat coming from Brazil as it arrives at its ports.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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