Brazil's Incoming Agriculture Minister Threatens To Quit Mercosur

MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd November, 2018) Tereza Cristina, tapped by President-elect Jair Bolsonaro to lead Brazil's Agriculture Ministry, said Wednesday the country could quit the Mercosur trade bloc if it failed to address inequality.

"Either Brazil tries to strengthen Mercosur and says what it wants, or in the worst-case scenario it leaves. This cannot continue any longer, it's unfavorable for us," she told O Globo newspaper.

The conservative politician said Brazil did not have a level playing field in trade with other member states - Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

She demanded more equality for Brazil in agricultural exports after accusing imported milk and rice of ruining small businesses in the country.

During the election campaign, far-right Bolsonaro vowed to revisit Brazil's membership of Mercosur and the BRICS club of emerging economies, earning comparisons to US President Donald Trump.