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US Emphasizes Joint Security Concerns as It Deepens Ties With Brazil

Natalie Liu

   WASHINGTON - Warming relations between the United States and Brazil
   received a boost this week with an update to an existing [1]bilateral
   trade agreement, along with the commitment of billions of U.S. dollars
   to boost Brazilian industries.

   While Washington seeks to underscore collective security by deepening
   engagement with the largest country in South America, it is unclear to
   what extent this approach resonates in Brazil. The fact that elections
   will be held in less than two weeks in the United States only
   complicates the matter, analysts say.

   "Some might say [the newly concluded Protocol on Trade Rules and
   Transparency] is not as glamorous as a tariff-cutting agenda, market
   access of this or that product," but the success of the negotiations
   underscores both governments' commitment, Brazil's top diplomat in
   Washington said in an interview with VOA.

   "Notwithstanding restrictions of travel, difficulties having to do with
   negotiating over the internet, over Zoom, we met those goals" which
   were set out in March by presidents Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro,
   said Ambassador Nestor Forster, Jr.

   He said the newly signed protocol, which covers "trade facilitation,
   good regulatory practices, and anti-corruption measures," is designed
   to bring concrete results by cutting red tape to ensure that business
   processes are more transparent and more inclusive.

   Forster said the new guidelines will help by "opening up the process
   for private sector participation, civil society participation, with
   public hearings, etc. '¦ These are real things that are felt by people
   on the ground who are on day-to-day operations; we had tremendous
   support" from the business community and other stakeholders.

   U.S. officials indicated that geostrategic concerns figured as
   prominently as trade and economics as the two countries move closer
   under presidents Trump and Bolsonaro.

   In an unusual move, a U.S. delegation that traveled to Brazil this week
   to witness the signing of the trade protocol was led not by a trade
   official, but by National Security Adviser Robert C. O'Brien, who made
   clear that enhancing democracy and security is just as important as
   energy, infrastructure and economic prosperity.

     "Thank you to Foreign Minister [2]@ernestofaraujo for being such a
     gracious host. It was our pleasure to join him for important
     discussions on how the U.S. and Brazil can work together on
     promoting democracy, security, and economic prosperity." -NSA Robert
     C. O'Brien [3]pic.twitter.com/gOplZ73r49
     -- NSC (@WHNSC) [4]October 20, 2020

   O'Brien was joined by Brazil's foreign and economic ministers when the
   two governments signed a $1 billion Memorandum of Understanding on
   Tuesday, aimed at enhancing Brazilian industries.

   The telecommunications sector, including 5G, is identified as among the
   industries that the funding initiative, led by the U.S. Export-Import
   Bank, seeks to strengthen.

   "We're not just partners, we're allies," O'Brien told his Brazilian
   hosts, as he recalled that Trump had designated Brazil [5]a major
   non-NATO ally of the United States in July 2019.

References

   1. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2020/october/united-states-and-brazil-update-agreement-trade-and-economic-cooperation-new-protocol-trade-rules
   2. https://twitter.com/ernestofaraujo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   3. https://t.co/gOplZ73r49
   4. https://twitter.com/WHNSC/status/1318354938385387521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   5. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-designation-federative-republic-brazil-major-non-nato-ally/

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