In today’s issue: Bolsonaro and Trump pledge cooperation. China imposes barriers on Brazilian meat plants. And the attack on a uranium convoy.
Bolsonaro gives Trump far more than he receives
Jair Bolsonaro is back from his Washington meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, bringing home some diplomatic victories for his administration. Mr. Trump agreed to support Brazil’s bid to join the OECD, which can give more credibility to the country before investors, and to make Brazil a “major non-NATO ally,” which can increase military cooperation between the two largest democracies in the Americas.
However, he made more concessions than his counterpart did. Brazil agreed to give up its “developing country benefits” at the World Trade Organization (such as more room for agricultural subsidies and longer deadlines to implement WTO policies), and agreed to more access for American pork in Brazil, and an import quota of 750,000 tons of American wheat with zero tariffs.
- In return, the U.S. pledged to “schedule a technical visit to audit Brazil’s raw beef inspection system, as soon as it is satisfied with Brazil’s food safety documentation.”
In a nutshell: Brazil promised to buy more goods from the U.S., and the U.S. promised to think about...