© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Two combines harvest wheat close to Moree, Australia, October 27, 2020. Picture taken October 27, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Barrett

By Gabriel Araujo and Ana Mano

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -The Brazilian and Australian governments have opened talks geared toward forging new agricultural commerce agreements after representatives of each international locations met this week, the Brazilian agriculture ministry stated in an announcement on Friday.

While Brazil goals to export pork to Australia, the South American nation may begin importing Australian wheat and barley beneath a possible future pact, the assertion stated.

Brazil is a web wheat importer and the world’s fourth largest pork exporter, being residence to among the world’s largest meatpackers.

Brazil’s major provider of imported wheat is Argentina, although its personal inside manufacturing is rising because the nation seeks to develop into self-sufficient within the staple.

Last week, Brazil grew to become the second nation on the planet to approve cultivation and sale of drought-tolerant genetically modified wheat, which might permit farmers to plant it in drier areas just like the Cerrado biome.

To implement an agricultural settlement, Brazil and Australia should first negotiate a discount of bilateral commerce tariffs on the World Trade Organization, in line with the ministry’s assertion.

Abitrigo, a Brazilian commerce group representing flour millers, stated in a separate assertion it additionally met Australian authorities representatives to share info on the Brazilian wheat market.

The commerce group stated it was in favor of diversifying sources of wheat imports, including this could be useful to Brazilian flour millers.

Sophie Davis, Australia’s ambassador to Brazil, met Brazilian Agriculture Ministry Carlos Favaro on Wednesday, the agriculture ministry’s assertion stated.

Aside from liberalizing commerce, the pair additionally mentioned sustainable agriculture tasks and alternatives for analysis cooperation within the area.