A Brazilian Government representative says Argentine lemons and other citrus fruit will likely be allowed into the Portuguese-speaking country this year, following high-level trade talks between the two neighbors. 

The third meeting of the Production and Trade Bilateral Commission was held in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, on Jan. 30-31, setting the stage for when the two presidents will meet next week in São Paulo.

Marisa Bircher, Secretary for Agroindustrial Markets at Argentina's Ministry of Agriculture, expects horticultural trade relations to improve between the countries.

"The great political harmony between the Ministers of Agriculture of both countries, led by Ricardo Buryaile and Blairo Maggi, allows for progress in the resolution of some issues that hinder bilateral trade," she said.

Luis Rangel, director of the sanitation department at Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) said he expected that "Argentine citrus would be able to enter Brasil during the 2017 export campaign, which is just about to start."

"Thanks to the good development last season importing pears and apples from Argentina, we have increased confidence in the official phytosanitary control system of his country, in the hands of [Argentina phytosanitary service] SENASA," he said.

Local media La Gaceta reported that lemons were among the products being discussed at the recent talks. It added that Rangel said while talks had stalled during Argentina's previous presidency, there had been good progress since Mauricio Macri took over in 2015.

"From a phytosanitary point of view, there were no objections. I think the differences were concentrated about the administrative aspects," he was quoted as saying.

Brazil blocked market access to Argentine citrus several years ago following phytosanitary concerns.

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