Brazil signals strengthening WTO, sustainable agenda at G20 meeting

The strengthening of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the inclusion of smaller businesses in international trade, the promotion of a sustainable agenda, and discussions on protectionist barriers were key highlights of Brazil’s participation in the G20 Trade Ministers Meeting, which concluded on Friday (August 25) in Jaipur, India.

Brazil is set to assume the presidency of the G20 in 2024 when it is expected to further the discussions on these topics. At the Jaipur meeting, the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services (MDIC) was represented by its Executive Secretary, Márcio Elias Rosa, who led the Brazilian delegation. He advocated for Brazilian stances in bilateral talks with representatives from various countries and in the meeting with the B20, a business forum held after the governmental meeting in New Delhi.

During the discussions, Brazil reaffirmed its commitment to achieve zero deforestation by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. The topics of energy transition and Brazil’s potential in this area were recurring themes, as the country possesses substantial potential to attract investments requiring clean energy. “Today, Brazil offers political stability and concrete growth prospects,” Elias Rosa stated to Valor Econômico newspaper.

He also emphasized the need for a more comprehensive discussion on protectionism. “Serious consideration must be given to the establishment of trade barriers and protectionist measures. Merely announcing that a measure has environmental objectives is not sufficient.”

Private Sector Involvement

The National Confederation of Industry (CNI) mobilized the Brazilian private sector for a meeting with the B20. “Private sector involvement is crucial for the success of G20 in the realm of international trade,” highlighted Tatiana Prazeres, Secretary of Foreign Trade at MDIC, who was part of the Brazilian delegation in India. She emphasized the favorable reception of Brazilian proposals in both forums.

Concluding the bilateral appointments, Elias Rosa met with the Vice Minister of Trade of Australia, Tim Ayres, and the Minister of Trade of the United Arab Emirates, Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. They discussed investments in Brazil and the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Abu Dhabi.

Regarding Brazil’s participation in the G20 meeting, the Executive Secretary also highlighted agreements on topics such as digitalization of operations, in which Brazil has been making advancements in various areas, including the Siscomex unified foreign trade portal.

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