Good morning! We’re discussing if a trade deal between Brazil and China is possible. Jair Bolsonaro’s new approval ratings. And the lingering challenges of the Brazilian Republic—which celebrates its 130th anniversary. (This newsletter is for platinum subscribers only. Become one now!)
Important. There will be no issue of the Daily Briefing tomorrow, November 15, a national holiday in Brazil. We’ll be back on Monday with our Weekly Report. But our website will continue to be updated with new stories.
Is a trade deal between Brazil and China possible?
President Jair Bolsonaro met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, as part of the ongoing 11th BRICS Summit in Brasília. The two countries signed nine accords and memoranda of understanding—and Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said Brazil and China have initiated talks over a possible trade deal, without getting into specifics about its scope or timetable.
Why it matters. China is Brazil’s undisputed leading trading partner—absorbing almost one-third of all Brazilian exports. Mr. Guedes’ team says Brazil is not worried about losing its trade surplus with the Asian giant, and that the focus is to establish free-flow trade.
What’s in for Brazil? The Economy Minister has not yet set a goal for the...