Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Ernesto Araújo, advocated for deeper cooperation ties with the USA, arguing that this could bring opportunities to Brazil in various areas, including economy and trade. The statement was made on March 27 during a public hearing with the Foreign Relations Committee of the Chamber of Deputies.
Araújo criticized previous administrations in their relations with the USA and highlighted the support shown by President Donald Trump to Brazilians in the country’s efforts to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
“The relationship with the USA may be the most neglected partnership in recent years in Brazil, as it was often thought that the USA would result in poor ties in various areas. Our goal is to recover lost time,” he said.
Joining the OECD, the chancellor said, would represent a quality seal for 
Brazilian goods and would facilitate trade and economic negotiations in Brazil. The first step to forging solid ties with the USA will occur in the coming days, with the arrival of a US technical mission to the country to inspect Brazilian beef.
Safeguards
The chancellor reiterated the importance of the Technological Safeguards Agreement, signed by the governments of Brazil and the USA during President Jair Bolsonaro’s visit to Washington. The pact regulates the commercial use of the Alcântara launch base in the Brazilian state of Maranhão and still needs to be ratified by the National Congress to come into effect.
The satellite market moves about $200 billion a year, Araújo pointed out. “It’s an agreement that does not harm Brazilian sovereignty at all.”
Agribusiness and China
During the hearing, the Foreign Minister mentioned that Brazil’s agenda with China will be reinforced between May and June, when a bilateral commission, with members from both countries, is scheduled to meet to negotiate common interests.
Araújo continued by saying that there are major concerns with border states, such as Roraima and Acre, about how to create the necessary conditions to boost trade. He also spoke about recent negotiations for the construction of roads and bridges in these regions.