Good morning! Today, Brazil finally approves a new trade agreement with Chile. Industries look on in fear as China faces an energy crisis of its own. Covid inquiry zeroes in on what could be the biggest scandal in Brazilian medical history.
Senate greenlights Brazil-Chile free trade agreement
The Senate ratified the free trade agreement between Brazil and Chile on Tuesday evening. The deal was signed back in 2018 during the Michel Temer presidency, but had stalled in Congress ever since.
Why it matters. Brazil is Chile’s main trading partner in Latin America and third worldwide, while Chile is Brazil’s second-largest partner in the region, only behind Argentina.
- Moreover, the deal could serve as a vector of rapprochement between Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance (a bloc formed by Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru).
Behind the scenes. The deal’s path to approval in Congress wasn’t without drama, requiring intense lobbying from Chilean diplomatic authorities to overcome two forces working against the deal: the government’s own support base, and telecom giants.
- The more radical wing of Bolsonarism was incensed by one of the deal’s provisions to promote “gender perspectives in global trade.” Ultra-conservative lawmakers believed this would be a gateway to making...