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7 3.11 to 3.16.2019 “We are still far behind the results we achieved last year”, stated president Antonio Megale. “Argentina, our main client, is still facing substantial obstacles. Let us hope that they can straighten these problems”. According to the exec, performance in exports will continue to be difficult throughout all the first half of the year, with some relief, maybe, in the last quarter of the year -- not enough, though, to prevent the downturn in the sector. In financial terms, exports yielded to the companies roughly US 1.5 billion in the two-month period, a reduction of 36% compared to the same period last year. In February sales were US$ 876.4 billion, 40.8% below same month last year and 23.1% over January. “When exports exceed R$ 1 billion in a month, this is an indicator that things are going well. But we are below that mark”. Mexico. In a few days, the current bilateral automotive commercial agreement with Mexico will expire, and we will move on to a free trade scenario. Some clues, though, point out to a new deal with higher quotas, according to Megale. “Governments are talking along these lines”. The executive said that, even though Anfavea is all for open borders, a new timetable is needed to take Brazilian competitiveness to a level compatible with that of Mexico. There are additionally other issues still pending, such as local content – which leads Anfavea’s president to believe in a new agreement with quotas, stopping short of putting a date for this definition.