In June 8-9, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted the IV CEO Summit of the Americas, where heads of state, ministers, and senior authorities met with chief executives and business leaders to discuss a range of issues facing the Americas.

The Brazil-U.S. Business Council supported the gathering, and participated in a roundtable featuring John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and the ministers of environment and foreign relations from Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico. The meeting focused on a hemispheric effort for climate action and environmental sustainability.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Brazil-U.S. Business Council hosted its two-day U.S.-Brazil Connect Summit as news began to break that the two countries have reached an agreement on a bilateral trade package.

The U.S. and Brazil have been working towards a package since March when President Donald Trump and President Jair Bolsonaro directed their respective trade delegations to deepen the bilateral relationship.

President Bolsonaro opened the summit, emphasizing that the U.S. and Brazil relationship has never been stronger.

The Chamber’s Brazil-U.S. Business Council has been promoting the bilateral economic relationship for more than 40 years, representing the voice of business and expressing its priorities. The Council engaged the two governments throughout the negotiations and provided specific recommendations on all three agreed upon chapters as well as the originally planned digital trade chapter.

Brilliant welcomed the progress made in the areas of trade facilitation, good regulatory practices, and anti-corruption, while acknowledging the work that remains on key elements such as digital trade and delivery services.

“The Chamber applauds the progress of the U.S. and Brazilian governments for delivering a trade package that will help foster stronger commercial ties between the two governments. By implementing trade facilitation reforms, embracing good regulatory practices, and taking steps to combat corruption, this agreement will support commerce, growth, and job creation in both countries,” said Brilliant. “There is still much more to do on key priorities—the fact that digital trade and express shipment provisions did not make the cut is a missed opportunity. We ask both governments to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible to leverage the positive momentum of today’s announcement.”

For more on the U.S. Chamber’s policy priorities for completing a comprehensive trade deal, read the one-pager “Building a Strategic Alliance for the 21st Century.”