TEHRAN (Iran News) – Head of Iran-Brazil Joint Chamber of Commerce says Iran almost imports 60 percent of its basic goods from Brazil and the country is keen to expand its trade with this Latin American country.

Speaking to ILNA, Seyed Fakhreddin Amerian said that Iran imports over $5b worth of basic goods with the maximum 4 percent tariff levied by Brazil but the country’s exports to Brazil are less than $100m, adding that Brazilian Government gets more than 100 percent tariffs from Iran’s exports to this Latin American state. He noted he has demanded a bill to be approved by Iran’s Majlis to adjust custom tariffs based on the preferential tariff.

The tariff comes from a small number of goods exported from Iran to Brazil, where Iran imports more than 50 to 60 percent of its imports of basic goods from Brazil.

Touching open the inauguration of the office of the joint chamber in Sao Paulo, Amerian said that the office was inaugurated last week in presence representatives of Majlis and an Iranian trade delegation.

He went on to say that Iran imports more than $5 billion worth of basic goods from Brazil, but Tehran’s exports to the country are less than $100 million.

Amerian also noted that the chamber is seeking to clear goods with Brazil as well as to amend the tariff status between the two countries.

He noted that by reducing the custom tariff the trade balance will be much better and logical and Iran can export goods like petrochemicals, gas oil, pistachio, date and raisins that Brazil requires.

He went on to say that Iranian agriculture Minister supports extraterrestrial cultivation by the private sector in Brazil and the ministry gives guarantee to buy the products of from those who invests in cultivation in Brazil. He stated that the minister has also vowed to remove all hurdles in way of trade between the two states.

Amerian also said that some of the slaughtered meat in Brazil is exported to Iran and Brazil has good areas for cultivation of corn and soya that Iranians can cooperate in those fields in Brazil. He reiterated that the main goal behind the formation of this chamber is to boost direct trade between Iran and Brazil and to eliminate the third party countries or middlemen.

He also stated that Iran is in a condition that it can have the most barter trade with countries like Brazil which provides 60 percent of Iran’s basic goods and the joint chamber seeks to materialize it.