In view of the recent changes in the Brazilian political scenario and the appointment of new Agricultural Attachés, Brazilian green coffee export industry is involved in establishing its strategic place to face the challenges of defining actions in the complex and comprehensive agenda of trade negotiations, and giving priority to positions in the various negotiation tables.

Agribusiness exports have helped Brazil reduce Public Finances deficits. Therefore, diplomacy should seek firm action, aimed at eliminating the bureaucracy that distort the market, and reducing tariff costs to access new destinations. With this in mind,  Cecafe has been actively taking part in meetings with the new Attachés appointed for Argentina, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, China, Korea, India, Mexico, Russia, Vietnam and Thailand, strategic countries for Brazilian agribusiness, in the presence of phytosanitary authorities  of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA).

Discussions involved the main questions related to access to markets and reducing bureaucracy, with emphasis in issuing Phytosanitary Certificates (CFs), a common practice when looking for new buyers for Brazilian coffee.

Opening up markets globally is fundamental not only for Brazilian agribusiness, but for the future of the Brazilian economy as a whole. In this sense, Cecafe´s support to Brazilian authorities will make possible to expand the market and competitivity for green coffee on the international market.  The main challenge is to maximize the benefits, while giving priority to comparative and competitive advantage, which result in progress in issues that reduce competitivity, such as logistic costs and bureaucracy.

In spite of the discussions about the strategic position of Brazilian agribusiness vis-à-vis the international market, Brazil continues to be a world leader in coffee production and exports. Despite logistic obstacles, as the inefficient transports matrix, and the lack of investments in port infrastructure and warehouses, the export sector is competitive.

In this respect, Cecafe established a bimonthly agenda with the National Waterway Transport Agency (Agência Nacional de Transportes Aquaviários) (ANTAQ), with emphasis is the complete publication of Resolution 5032, which provides the rights and duties of users, intermediary agents and companies that operate in maritime support, port support, coastal and long-haul navigation, and establish administrative violations. Adding to that, Cecafe, at the request of ANTAQ, will present an overview of the evolution of port duties and costs, as well as performance indicators of port terminals and shipowners, based on a recently created system, to meet the coffee export industry demands.

Last but not least, in 2010, one out of four products of agribusiness circulating in the world was Brazilian. By 2030, according to MAPA forecasts, one out three products will be from Brazil, especially, because of the growing demand of the Asian countries.

Therefore, export trade must pay attention to all opportunities of negotiating to have access to those markets, with the purpose of expanding current Brazilian presence in the coffee global market. Cecafe continues as the main partner of the industry, with many management guidelines, aiming at supporting Brazilian authorities in the trade negotiation processes, in reducing bureaucracy and in harmonizing sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Marcos Matos – Chief Executive – CECAFÉ