The Brazilian Central Bank's Economic Policy Committee (Copom) decided Wednesday to maintain the country's annual basic interest rate at 6.5 percent.

The decision met with financial market expectations. It was the third consecutive time that the Copom maintained the Selic rate at the record-low level of 6.5 percent.

The committee said the Brazilian economy is now recovering from the impact of the nationwide truckers' strike in May, but growing at a slower pace than before the strike.

The strike lasted 10 days and paralyzed almost all road transportation across the country.

The effects of the strike on inflation were temporary and should be overcome over the next months, committee officials said. When the effects of the strike are gone, inflation will continue at a low rate, they added.

The Copom meets every six weeks to decide whether to make any changes to the interest rate. Their next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 11 to 12.