Brazilian and Chinese officials will continue talks to try and reach an agreement within 60 days on health standards for soya trade, Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues said on Friday during a visit to Brazil by China's leader. But he added that sanitary protocols were signed allowing Brazil to export chicken and beef to China and for the Chinese to export pork to Brazil,
"A working group will work it (soya) out point by point in the next 60 days," he told reporters, adding that the 20-hours of talks so far had been difficult.
Soya oil is one sticking point and the group will also deal with health rules for citrus products.
Visiting Chinese officials were unavailable for comment.
Brazil had hoped for an agreement on soya this week during the visit to Brazil by Chinese President Hu Jintao. Brasilia hopes to prevent a repetition of a dispute earlier this year, when China blacklisted many Brazilian soya shippers saying shipments were tainted by fungicide.
The dispute cost Brazil an estimated $1 billion in lost soya trade between April and June.
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