weekly_edition_867

4 2.11 to 2.16.2019 Foreign trade Industry, overall, according to the source, agrees to a more flexible scenario with regard to imports, but time is needed for adaptation: “It is not the maturation time of Rota 2030 to modernize the lines. It is a shorter time, the time for the reforms that the government promised, of improvements in Brazil’s port infrastructure. We need to be as competitive as Mexico or even more so that the national industry continues to be relevant from the attraction of new investments point of view”. There is a clause in the agreement which will end in March stablishing that, in the free trade situation, the amount of Brazilian content in the vehicles involved in the commercial chain increases from 35% to 40%. That is seen as something to be respected by the countries in the future scenario, told the source: “It has been heard that the rule of origin in the agreement could be negotiated by the countries, and we hope that it will be respected. Otherwise, there could be problems in the supply chain”. The Mexican automotive sector has been through difficulties in domestic sales due to the exchange rate and credit shortages. Production lines have been occupied in recent years by the demands with regard to exports – and not just for long-standing regional partners, such as the United States and Canada, but for other regions, such as Brazil and European countries. According to data by Amia, the association that represents the automakers of Mexico, sales in the year-accumulated decreased 7% in comparison with the volume sold in 2017, reaching 1 million 421 units. Exports grew 6% on the same basis of comparison, reaching a volume of 3 million 449 thousand 201 units shipped. Production was of 3 million 908 thousand 139 vehicles, practically the same volume of 2017 – 0.6% less. Mexico accounted for 12% of Brazilian vehicle exports last year, while exports to Brazil represent 2.3% of the total sold by the manufacturers installed in North America in 2017. The best-selling model on the Mexican market last year was the Nissan Versa. In the light commercial segment, a pickup truck of the company, the Nissan MP300, is the best-selling vehicle, followed by models also produced in Brazil, such as the Nissan Kicks and Honda CR-V.