- THE IMPORTANCE OF MERCOSUR TO CEARÁ AND TO THE OTHER STATES OF THE NORTHEAST

By approving the Common External Tariff, the Common Market Council has given a new political dimension to the integration process, permitting the end of the transition process and changing the status of the integration process to a Customs Union. [...] The latter is the executive branch, which oversees implementation of the Assuncion Treaty, enforcing negotiation deadlines and decisions of the CMC and also adopting the necessary measures to comply with the terms of the treaty. [...] It is also important to stress the total lack of discrimination between local and foreign investment, the demand that the environmental impact of the projects be considered and the inclusion of the assets provided in the "leasing" of the available benefits. [...] The incorporation and development of an increasing number of Northeastern farmers capable of supplying the international market will depend on the proportion of the investments in this sector and on the organization and professionalization of individual producers. [...] With the constitution of the new block on November 29, 1991, entering into force immediately with the signature of the Brasilia Protocol, the implementation of the first stage initiated with the change in Customs Union.