The leaders of Germany and Brazil recently signed an agreement commiting the metrological institutes of both countries, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Germany and the National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality in Brazil, to accept each other's calibration results and cooperate extensively in the field of metrology. Currently, a measuring instrument manufacturer could face additional expenses when he exports products that meet reliability standards in his own country, but which could be subject to recalibration once across the border. Germany and Brazil said they will strengthen trade relations by mutually accepting certain calibration results and by conducting joint research around the SI base units, the basis of all measurements. The two countries plan to jointly develop new measuring instruments and processes, participate in international comparison measurements, exchange experts, and more within all areas of measurement, from basic research to industrial and chemical metrology. The presidents of Germany and Brazil signed the agreement during the General Conference on Weights and Measures, held earlier this month in Paris.