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Brazil to ‘actively’ boost farm exports: next foreign minister
BRASILIA, Dec 22, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Brazil is to throw its diplomatic
muscle behind a push to “actively and systematically” increase exports from
its huge farm sector, the country’s next foreign minister said Friday.
“Agriculture’s strength will be part of the project to increase Brazil’s
power. At the same time, projecting the image of a country that is confident,
big and strong will further serve agriculture’s interests,” Ernesto Araujo
said in a series of tweets.
Araujo promised to inject a good dose of ideology into trade and Brazil’s
dealings with other countries, while railing against the foreign policies of
leftist leaders who ruled the country between 2003 and 2010.
He also said a new agribusiness department would be created in his
ministry.
“New foreign policy: Brazil won’t stop exporting chicken and soya, beef
and sugar, but will also move to export hope and freedom,” he said.
“The fact we are an agricultural power doesn’t stop us having ideas and
fighting for them.”
Araujo was a mid-ranking public worker in Brazil’s foreign ministry when
far-right president-elect Jair Bolsonaro tapped him to become the country’s
top diplomat. The new government takes office on January 1.
The 51-year-old, who never held the post of ambassador, embodies
Bolsonaro’s stance of encouraging business and foreign investment while
downplaying the need to fight climate change or protect the environment.
– Inexperience –
The foreign policy inexperience of Bolsonaro and his team has been evident
in rash rhetoric against China — Brazil’s biggest trading partner — and the
president-elect’s promise — hastily backpedalled — to move Brazil’s embassy
in Israel to Jerusalem.
Bolsonaro has repeatedly said that China “is buying Brazil.”
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But his country is doing very well in terms of increased soya exports to
China after Beijing imposed a 25 percent tariff on US soybeans in retaliation
for tariffs on Chinese goods ordered by US President Donald Trump.
And while Bolsonaro said last month he intended to follow Trump’s lead by
moving his embassy to Jerusalem, the sudden realization that such a
controversial step could put vital agriculture exports to Europe and Middle
East markets at risk forced him to say “it hasn’t been decided yet.”
Brazil is a significant trading power, notably exporting soybeans, iron
ore, sugar, oil and chicken, with its main markets being China, the United
States and the European Union.
Exports last year topped $200 billion and imports $138 billion, according
to government figures.
Some Brazilian media reported that Araujo was trying to stake out a bigger
area of responsibility for his foreign ministry by including agricultural
trade.
He faces an economy ministry that has been expanded to swallow portfolios
for industry, investment and labor and which looks poised to have a say over
Brazil’s trade policies.
BSS/AFP/HR/1005