Brazil’s farm lobby denies unfair trade practices at U.S. hearing

The Director of International Relations at the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA), Sueme Mori, represented the sector on Wednesday (Sept. 3) in a public hearing held in Washington (U.S.) and denied the existence of unfair practices in the trade of Brazilian products in the American market.

The hearing was organized by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and relates to Section 301 of the Trade Act, which allows the Executive Branch to investigate trade practices that may be considered “unfair or discriminatory.” The law also permits the unilateral application of sanctions if irregularities are proven.

“Brazilian farmers operate under strict compliance rules, ensuring safety, quality, and transparency for international consumers — including Americans,” Mori stated in her remarks.

She emphasized that Brazil’s competitiveness in agribusiness stems from factors such as natural resources and investments in innovation, “not from unfair trade practices.”

Regarding the ethanol market, one of the points raised in the U.S. investigation, Mori noted that in 2024 Brazil imported 17 times more ethanol from the United States than from India, while Mexico registered no significant exports.

Mori also pointed out that Brazil has a limited network of trade agreements. In the case of agribusiness, only 5.5% of Brazilian exports benefit from preferential tariffs. She added that both Americans and Brazilians gain from bilateral trade.

“On the one hand, the U.S. is the third-largest destination for Brazilian agribusiness exports, and on the other, we are a major consumer of U.S.-produced inputs, technologies, and industrial equipment,” she said.

According to CNA, in 2024, Brazil imported more than US$1.1 billion in fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and seeds from the U.S. market.

Thus, the sector advocates dialogue. “We reiterate the willingness of Brazilian agribusiness to engage in constructive dialogue and cooperation with the United States, convinced that a trade relationship based on evidence, integrity, mutual respect, and common goals is essential to address global challenges in agriculture, food security, and sustainability,” Mori concluded.

Source: Globo Rural

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