DW-WORLD interviewed, in Ludwigshafen, the presidents of DaimlerChrysler Brazil and of BASF South America.

Ben van Schaik, president of DaimlerChrysler and of the Brazilian-German Chamber of Commerce in São Paulo, during an interview with DW-WORLD.

"We, Europeans, must reflect on our strengths, just like the Brazilians are doing. Brazil is incredibly strong in agriculture. The country has four major regions that are blessed by the weather, and where you can have three harvests a year. Automation is going on at a speedy pace and product quality is far above that seen in other countries, not to mention the great prices. I don't believe Europe can continue ignoring this on the long term." 

Rolf-Dieter Acker, president of the BASF South America Group

"The failure in Cancun is certainly a disappointment for industrialized countries, but it also represents a mid- and long-term challenge for developing countries," analyzed Rolf-Dieter Acker, president of the BASF South America Group, to DW-WORLD. The chemical group's executive believes these countries should not limit de trade liberalization debate to the agricultural issue and that they should search for a solution for all products.

In any event, "we hope the European Union and the Mercosur will find a solution regardless of the WTO," said Acker, who sees in Brazil and in its Mercosur partners a communion of advantages that is unequalled in other areas of the globe: a large internal market, political stability, abundant natural resources and religious peace.