Colombia, Brazil Agree to Small Measures to Smooth Cross-Border Trade

Colombia and Brazil signed multiple low-level agreements to promote trade last week following a meeting between the two heads of state.

Coinciding with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ trip to Brasilia to meet with Brazilian President Michel Temer, the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding to promote cross-border business training, entrepreneurship, and the digital exchange of information.

A joint declaration, signed by both nations’ commerce ministers, María Lorena Gutiérrez of Colombia and Marcos Jorge de Lima of Brazil, also will also lead to the cooperation on certificates of origin that Gutiérrez says will “simplify trade procedures” on products shipped between the two countries.

The two presidents are expected to meet one more time before Santos exits office, with Temer accepting an invitation to visit Colombia in June.

(Photo credit: Colombian Ministerio de Comercio Industria Y Turismo)