What to expect for U.S.-Brazil relations with a Biden White House

Often dubbed the “Trump of the Tropics” by international media outlets, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has always welcomed comparisons to his American counterpart. He has often aped Donald Trump’s rhetoric and demeanor, and has centered his entire foreign policy agenda around having a good relationship with the U.S. president.

In practical terms, that relationship has brought some results, such as a recent limited deal to facilitate trade (which had been discussed before Mr. Bolsonaro took office), Brazil’s anointment as a “major non-NATO ally,” support for Brazilian membership to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a technology safeguards agreement, and multiple coordination forums.

Critics, however, say these wins are not enough to justify the subservient posture from Latin America’s biggest economy — indeed, trade with the U.S. fell to an 11-year low, and Mr. Trump has not shied away from slapping import quotas on Brazilian steel, despite numerous concessions made to facilitate the entry of U.S. ethanol in Brazil.  

Regardless, as networks call Nevada and Philadelphia for Joe Biden, the Democratic challenger has topped the mark of 270...