U.S. House committee wants no business with Bolsonaro

A trade deal with the U.S. has been something of a Holy Grail for the Jair Bolsonaro administration — and a rare occasion in which the interests of the pro-free trade ideals of Economy Minister Paulo Guedes meet those of Americanophile (and anti-globalist) Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo. Back in July 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would push for an agreement with Brazil, suggesting a friendly relationship with President Jair Bolsonaro could help lower trade barriers between the two nations. Since then, however, little has been done. And chances of a potential deal have gotten slimmer, with 24 Democrats from the U.S. Congressional Committee on Ways and Means voicing their “strong objections” to any rapprochement with Brazil.

In a letter addressed to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the members of Congress said it is “inappropriate for the administration to engage in economic partnership discussions of any scope with a Brazilian leader who disregards the rule of law and is actively dismantling hard-fought progress on civil, human, environmental, and labor rights.”

The congresspeople mentioned Brazil’s rising deforestation figures as another reason for keeping Latin America’s biggest economy at an arm’s length. They point out that...