Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo described the free trade agreement he is negotiating with the Donald Trump administration as a "holy grail" on Friday (13.09.2019) and said it will be announced "soon," although there is still no "specific date."
"ANDWe are much closer to a trade agreement (…) We are getting closer to that, perhaps it is the holy grail of Brazilian foreign policy, at least for the private sector that has long dreamed of some kind of pact between the US and Brazil."Araújo said at a press conference.
Araújo highlighted these trade negotiations as the greatest achievement of his three-day visit. to Washington, where he met with his US counterpart, Mike Pompeo, as well as top economic representatives, such as Trade Minister Wilbur Ross and White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow.
However, The foreign minister acknowledged that there is still no "specific date" to announce the agreement and not a text with the news in the commercial relationship.
He explained that the governments of Trump and Jair Bolsonaro are negotiating "in generic terms" and that, for now, The goal is to establish quotas for the exchange of specific goods, such as meat and steel, to later define an agreement that eliminates or substantially reduces tariffs.
"ANDWe are designing a very interesting package in the commercial area following the directive of the presidents who want to move towards a free trade agreement., Araújo stressed.
In line with what was explained by the Brazilian politician, Pompeo today promised that Washington "will increase" economic exchanges with the South American giant.
«All of Brazil's efforts give the U.S. great confidence to cooperate in new ways. We will grow our trade relationship, which is already worth $100.000 billion annually."Pompeo told reporters at the State Department.
Brazil and the US currently have a trade agreement that was signed in 2011, but which did not end the taxes imposed on goods crossing the border.
According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), trade in goods and services between Washington and Brasilia totaled $103.900 billion in 2018.
So much Pompeo and Araújo chaired a high-level strategic meeting at the State Department on Friday which had not been celebrated for seven years.
This is, both foreign ministers agreed, an example of the "common vision" that the far-right Trump and Bolsonaro signed up to at their first meeting in the White House in March, when they promised to mark American policy with their fervent opposition to socialism.
In today's meeting, Pompeo and Araújo pledged to promote the development of private initiatives in the Amazon, devoured by fire in recent weeks.
Specifically, both men outlined an initiative that Trump and Bolsonaro had already outlined in March, highlighting the establishment by the United States of a $100 million fund so that, for 11 years, Brazil can promote the biodiversity of the largest tropical forest in the world.
Neither of the Foreign Ministry representatives specified when the funds would be disbursed or what their specific use would be.
Speaking to reporters, Araújo simply insisted that the Amazon fires are a matter for Brazil and not for other nations, which he believes are interfering in the "sovereignty" of the South American giant when they suggest taking measures at an international level.
Bolsonaro's team has been very unhappy about governments like the French government putting the Amazon issue on the global agenda. French President Emmanuel Macron brought this environmental crisis to the G7 summit held at the end of August in Biarritz (France).
Giving Bolsonaro a boost, the White House has already said that it did not agree with Macron's initiative.
Brazil and the United States, the two most populous countries in the Americas, are experiencing a new episode in their bilateral relations under the Trump and Bolsonaro governments.
Trump has designated Brazil as a strategic military ally of the US outside NATO, allowing for deeper military cooperation with that nation.
Furthermore, both countries maintain a strong alliance in their policy toward Venezuela, where they are leading a campaign to depose President Nicolás Maduro and replace him with opposition leader Juan Guaidó, recognized as interim head of state by fifty nations.
Source: Reuters
Today, the minister @ernestofaraujo The Secretary of State of the United States, @SecPompeo, will meet in Washington for the 1st Strategic Partnership Dialogue #USA ?? -#Brasil ?? between the two administrations.
Are you watching the video of the press release? https://t.co/zHAbBrrKk4 pic.twitter.com/4wSNA164Si
—Itamaraty Brazil?? (@ItamaratyGovBr) September 13, 2019
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