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COUNCIL OP-ED IN THE HILL ASKS U.S. AID IN BRAZIL OECD BID
December 18, 2017

U.S. support for Brazil’s bid to become a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) would be beneficial for both countries, indicated Brazil-U.S. Business Council Executive Director Cassia Carvalho in an op-ed piece published Friday by political news site The Hill. Carvalho wrote, “Brazil would benefit immensely from the support of the United States for its accession…a move that would shape the country’s economic reform agenda and set Brazil’s future on a clear path toward a market-oriented economy and private sector-led development.” Brazil formally applied for OECD membership earlier this year. The application is now under review by the organization.

Brazil would benefit from membership through compliance with high international standards for business practices, transparency and economic policy. Brazil is the world’s ninth largest economy. The U.S., in turn, is a major investor in Brazil, with cumulative investments of $64 billion in 2016, and would benefit from modernizing reforms in Brazil made necessary by OECD membership. These cover a wide range, including trade, taxation, investment, rule of law and intellectual property protection. Carvalho wrote, “This is an opportunity that cannot be passed by.” She added, “U.S. support would strengthen the hand of (Brazilian) reformers and benefit U.S. companies that view Brazil as an increasingly important market.”

Link to The Hill website

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U.S. CHAMBER’S BRAZIL-U.S. BUSINESS COUNCIL APPOINTS NEW COUNCIL CHAIR
February 27, 2017

The Brazil-U.S. Business Council, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, announced today that Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup Latin America, will serve as the Council’s new chair.

“Citigroup has been present in Brazil for more than 100 years, and as a result, is a known leader in the Brazil-U.S. space. We welcome Jane Fraser into this leadership role for the Council,” said Cassia Carvalho, executive director of the Brazil-U.S. Business Council. “The Council is a key platform for strategic government-to-business dialogue, and I am confident that Fraser and Citigroup will provide valuable guidance in advancing the Council’s goals for the benefit of our members and partners.”

Fraser succeeds outgoing chairman Thomas F. McLarty of McLarty Associates, who led the Council during a critical time of government transition in Brazil and the U.S. Council members engaged with key U.S. and Brazilian government officials last week during the organization’s annual board and strategic planning meetings in Washington, D.C. Attendees discussed important issues such as foreign trade and the economic outlook, focusing particularly on reforms both countries could pursue in order to strengthen the bilateral commercial relationship.

“For all of the U.S. companies that make up the Council, Brazil is an essential market and a strategic part of their global footprint,” said Fraser. “I am honored to serve as the chair at this critical juncture for both countries, and I look forward to deepening collaboration between our businesses and the many stakeholders throughout the U.S. and Brazil. We have a real opportunity to support growth and job creation in both countries.”

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ADVOCACY MISSION TO BRASILIA
December 7, 2016

Our advocacy mission gathered senior executives in Brasilia for meetings with Brazilian government officials Dec. 5–8, 2016. The mission, which focused on the health care, innovation and infrastructure sectors, included strategic engagement with key decision makers from the Temer Administration. During this time, we also held the Annual Plenary with our partner organization CNI, showcasing our government and private sector leadership and celebrating 40 years of Brazil-U.S. partnership.

We also participated in the inaugural U.S.-Brazil government-to-business infrastructure meeting Dec. 8, where private sector representatives from both countries discussed upcoming project opportunities and exchanged best practices in infrastructure development in the hope of encouraging private sector participation in Brazilian and U.S. infrastructure projects.

To see photos from the mission, click HERE.

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SPENDING CAP APPROVED BY LOWER HOUSE AND SENT TO THE SENATE
October 26, 2016

The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies early Tuesday gave its first-round approval to a constitutional amendment limiting the rise in each year’s government spending to previous-year inflation. As a constitutional amendment, the proposal must now be approved again by the Chamber in a second round vote before being sent to the Senate for two rounds of voting. After a second-round approval to a constitutional amendment limiting the rise of government spending, the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies sent the bill to the Senate. As a constitutional amendment, the proposal must now be approved twice by senators before coming into force. Administration officials said they are confident the amendment will be approved by the end of this year so that it will apply to the 2017 budget.

The main changes are: During the next 20 years, public expenditures may not rise above inflation rates. This limit will also apply to health and education public policies from 2018. The President of Brazil may adjust the spending limits in 10 years. Government agencies that infringe the limit will be prevented from hiring staff and increasing wages. The amendment caps spending at all branches of the federal government. The approval was a victory for the administration of President Michel Temer, who has pledged a policy of fiscal austerity in the face of rising government deficits. Brazil’s debt-to-GDP ratio recently passed the 70 percent mark, considered worrisome by international credit rating agencies.

Yesterday, the Chamber voted 366 to 111 in favor of the amendment, or some 58 votes more than the three-fifths majority needed for passage. The second round in the Chamber is scheduled for October 25. The approval was a victory for the administration of President Michel Temer, who has pledged a policy of fiscal austerity in the face of rising government deficits. Brazil’s debt-to-GDP ratio recently passed the 70 percent mark, considered worrisome by international credit rating agencies. Next rounds of voting are scheduled for November 29 and December 13.

Link to government news agency release

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BRAZIL: RECOVERY, REFORM, OPPORTUNITY
October 8, 2016

The Brazil Council released a white paper on Brazil’s road to restoring investor confidence and stabilizing its economy by pushing a broad agenda of economic and regulatory reforms. The policy paper, titled “BRAZIL: Recovery, Reform, Opportunity,” was released during the 2016 Brazil Economic Conference to a notable audience, including Henrique Meirelles, finance minister of Brazil; Ilan Goldfajn, president of the Brazilian Central Bank; Brazilian and U.S. ambassadors; and CEOs and presidents of various global corporations. To view the white paper and its accompanying infographic in their entirety, click here.

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BRAZIL’S CONGRESS OPENS PRE-SALT OIL BLOCKS TO INVESTORS
October 5, 2016

The Brazilian House of Representatives approved a bill (P.L. 4567/2016) yesterday that removes the obligation of Petrobras’ participation in the exploration and operation of pre-salt oil fields. The deputies approved the main text and left for the next session the vote of some specific provisions (e.g. limiting the size of the oil fields). Currently, the law establishing the pre-salt sharing model establishes that the exploration of the oil fields must have at least 30% of Petrobras’ participation. The project ends the obligation by making optional the company’s decision to participate in the exploration of these fields’ consortia. In addition, the text also removes the requirement that the state-owned company must be the operator of the field. The current regulatory framework of the pre-salt determines that Petrobras will act as operator, which means it is to be directly responsible for all parts of the exploration, prospecting fields to the sale of the oil. The text was approved by 292 votes in favor, 101 against and one abstention. The bill originated in the Senate, authored by Senator Joseé Serra (PSDB-SP), and should follow to President Michel Temer’s endorsement if is not amended to modify the substance of the matter in the next vote.

This is an extraordinary development for Brazil and its campaign to open up the country to more foreign investment. The Brazil Council/AmCham-Rio Oil & Gas group has supported P.L. 4567/2016 since its submission to the Senate by then Senator Jose Serra.The government now expects investments will be unlocked and new companies will be interested in working in this sector in Brazil. The country still needs to clarify the rules governing field boundaries, local content requirements and whether to extend a tax incentive regime beyond 2020 for the oil industry.

Link to government news agency release

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