On March 19, 2019, the US White House released a joint statement by US President Trump and Brazilian President Bolsonaro in which they committed to building a new partnership between their two countries focused on increasing prosperity, enhancing security, and promoting democracy, freedom, and national sovereignty. The main points of this commitment are:
- The United States and Brazil stand with the Interim President of Venezuela Juan Guaido, along with the democratically elected National Assembly, and the Venezuelan people, as they work to peacefully restore constitutional order to Venezuela.
- To deepen their partnership through the United States-Brazil Security Forum to combat terrorism, narcotics and arms trafficking, cybercrimes, and money laundering, and they welcomed two new arrangements to enhance border security.
- Brazil intends to exempt United States citizens from tourist visa requirements.
- An agreement to take the steps necessary to enable Brazil to participate in Homeland Security’s Trusted Traveler Global Entry Program. The Presidents instructed their teams to negotiate a Mutual Recognition Agreement concerning their Trusted Trader programs, which will reduce costs for American and Brazilian companies.
- United States’ intent to designate Brazil as a Major Non-NATO Ally.
- A Technology Safeguards Agreement, which will enable United States companies to conduct commercial space launches from Brazil, as well as an agreement between the NASA and the Brazilian Space Agency to launch a jointly developed satellite in the near future.
- Agreement to build a Prosperity Partnership to increase jobs and reduce barriers to trade and investment.
- The two leaders also made a number of trade-related commitments. Brazil will implement a tariff rate quota, allowing for the annual importation of 750 thousand tons of American wheat at zero rate. In addition, the United States and Brazil agreed to science-based conditions to allow for the importation of United States pork. In order to allow for the resumption of Brazil’s beef exports, the United States agreed to expeditiously schedule a technical visit by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to audit Brazil’s raw beef inspection system, as soon as it is satisfied with Brazil’s food safety documentation.
- Announcement of a new phase of the United States-Brazil CEO Forum; the creation of a $100 million Biodiversity Impact Investment Fund that will catalyze sustainable investment in the Amazon region; agreement to establish a United States-Brazil Energy Forum to facilitate energy-related trade and investment.
- Support for Brazil initiating the accession procedure to become a full member of the OECD.
