Trump reiterates support for Brazil’s entry into OECD

US President Donald Trump and his top diplomat said on Thursday (10/10) that they support Brazil’s steps to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), although they are primarily supporting Argentina.

Trump said in a Twitter post that a joint statement he released with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in March “makes [it] absolutely clear that I support Brazil beginning the process for full OECD membership.”

“The United States stands by that statement and stands by @jairbolsonaro” he said.

In a letter to OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria in late August, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo supported offers from Argentina and Romania, but did not mention Brazil, despite Trump’s support in March.

Pompeo said in a statement on Thursday: “The leaked letter does not accurately represent the US position on OECD’s enlargement.”

“We are enthusiastic supporters of Brazil’s entry into this important institution and the United States will make a strong effort to support Brazil’s accession,” said Pompeo.

Bolsonaro, who supported Trump as a model, praised US support for the OECD offer in Brazil as one of his nine-month government’s achievements.

Alongside Bolsonaro, outside the White House, on March 19, Trump announced his support for Brazil to become a full member of the OECD, a forum of three dozen democratic nations with solid market economies.

OECD membership is seen as a seal of approval that increases investor confidence in a country’s government and economy.

Bolsonaro downplayed US support for Argentina, saying joining the OECD was a protracted process and that Brazil could take up to a year and a half to become a member.

“We’re almost there, but there were two countries ahead of us, Argentina and Romania,” he said in a live Facebook webcast for supporters.

In December, a report by the Brazilian government said that the main obstacle to its OECD application for the first time in May 2017 was opposition from the United States and the office of the US Trade Representative in particular.

In Latin America, only Chile and Mexico are in the club, while Colombia is on its way to join.

Source: Mercopress

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