Brazil confident it can seal regional trade deals with EU, US despite bird flu
PARIS, May 27 (Reuters) - Brazil is negotiating with the European Union and the United States to limit bird flu-related trade restrictions to affected regions, Brazil's veterinary officer said on Tuesday, expressing strong confidence in reaching agreements.
Brazil, the world's largest chicken exporter, confirmed its first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, on a poultry farm earlier this month, triggering country-wide trade bans from several major importers while others implemented state-wide restrictions.
Negotiations with the two blocs are taking place at the general session of the World Organisation for Animal Health in Paris.
"We know this is not the perfect time to negotiate, but it will happen eventually, as major poultry producers like the U.S. and Brazil face the same challenges," Brazil's Chief Veterinary Officer Marcelo Mota told Reuters.
He added he was "very confident" that agreements would be reached.
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