On Tuesday (27th) the Committee on Constitution and Justice and Citizenship (CCJ) approved a trade agreement between Mercosur and Egypt, signed in July 2004. The agreement (Bill 1105/08) has among its objectives the strengthening of relations between countries and expanding business transactions so that in the future a free trade area may be negotiated between the parties.

Among the measures envisaged in the agreement is the formation of a negotiating committee with representatives of Mercosur and Egypt to establish a timetable for the negotiations.

The committee's rapporteur, Deputy José Eduardo Cardozo (PT), supported the approval of the project, arguing that this is a preliminary set of rules that, after being approved, will permit trade adjustments to be made between Egypt and the Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay).

The project was presented by the Brazilian Representative Committee in the Mercosur Parliament. The text originated in Message 360/08, from the Executive Branch.
Procedure
The text will be still analyzed by the Floor.

Reportagem - Rodrigo Bittar
Edição - Pierre Triboli
Translation - Rejane Xavier