A Conversation with Brazil's Secretary of Foreign Trade

"The Brazilian government is extremely interested in advancing the trade dialogue with the United States perhaps as a stepping stone to negotiating a comprehensive agreement in the coming future," said Brazil's Secretary of Foreign Trade Lucas Ferraz at a Council of the Americas virtual event. Ferraz presented Brazil's trade agenda pillars, which include the reduction of domestic red tape and the reform of the country's import tariff structure—which involves changes in Mercosur common external tariffs by more than 10 percent, he said.

Ferraz outlined regulation reforms agreed to in the last couple years as well as Brazil's participation in the World Trade Organization's Government Procurement Agreement. He also said economic measures such as the federal government's tax reform may be approved this year, facilitating business and trade environment further.