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I warmly welcome the Brazilian delegation led by the Chair, Minister Fernando Mireles de Azevedo Pimentel, to their Eighth Trade Policy Review. [TPR].
Let me thank the Government of Brazil and the WTO Secretariat for their reports and, in particular, your chairman and discussant, for your insightful comments.
Chairman, following Brazil’s recent federal elections, we look forward to continuing to work constructively with the incoming government to explore bilateral opportunities and advance progressive multilateral solutions, including here at the WTO.
In our written questions for this review, the UK is keen to gain a deeper understanding of geographical indications, import and customs requirements, environmental and sustainability measures and government procurement.
According to Brazil’s 2017 TPR and the Secretariat’s report for this review note, Brazil is a somewhat inward-oriented economy. However, we are pleased to note the progress made in modernizing the Brazilian economy and appreciate Brazil’s clear commitment and steps here to reaffirm the WTO as a central pillar of global economic governance and its influential role in the multilateral trading system. I also recognize Brazil’s active engagement on all joint statement initiatives.
Chairman, we are encouraged by Brazil’s continued openness to international investment. We agree with Brazil that economies, like the multilateral trading system, should act as tools to improve everyone’s lives and that investors rely on predictability and stability.
As such, there are key opportunities for Brazil and the UK to build on common ground. For instance, the UK Global Tariff, which came into effect in January this year, has protected more than £2 billion worth of imports by unilaterally removing barriers to green trade. The measure supports advancing wind turbine components, renewable energy generation and carbon capture innovations and research. The measure reflects the importance of trade in greening the global economy, as highlighted in Director General Ngozi’s recent comments at COP 27 and the WTO World Trade Report. Trade must be a cornerstone of climate action.
Similarly, to boost international trade, UK Export Finance offers a dedicated £2 billion Clean Growth Direct Lending Facility and long-term financing (up to 18 years for truly renewable energy projects) to provide a safety net for businesses investing in the sector.
Turning to the development of a new trade policy, we are proud to support Brazil becoming the first country in Latin America to have a digital marketplace of export services tailored to the needs of MSMEs, based on the United National Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business. Integrated Services for MSMEs in International Business.
We also note that the BRAEXP platform [a new service for Brazilian’s exporters] It is set to be fully developed by March 2023 and we look forward to seeing the trade-facilitating benefits it will undoubtedly provide.
Chairman, let me also pay tribute to Brazil’s commitment to the trade facilitation agenda. We were pleased to support the World Bank Group and the World Customs Organization to deliver the Time Release Study, WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Gap Assessment, Trade and Gender Survey and Poverty to Brazil through the Trade Facilitation Program in Middle Income Countries. Impact assessment.
We encourage Brazil to implement the solutions identified in those deliverables. This will increase transparency and improve the effectiveness of international trade processes, ensuring that benefits are reaped regardless of socio-economic status, ethnicity or gender.
We are also pleased that the Secretariat’s report notes that Brazil has eliminated significant duties on certain aeronautical goods and implemented tariff reductions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Those measures demonstrate flexibility and openness to international trade, and we encourage Brazil to implement similar, outward-looking, openness measures going forward.
Regarding geographical indication [GI], the UK welcomes Brazil’s recent commitment to progress the UK’s application for GI protection particularly in relation to Scotch whisky, cheers. We are pleased with the progress we have made on the Double Taxation Agreement to boost trade and investment between our 2 countries.
We are also pleased to share with members that last Thursday 17 October we concluded negotiations with Brazil on the UK goods schedule at the WTO, a great step forward in our bilateral relationship. Earlier this year, we welcomed the unanimous invitation of the OECD Council to start Brazil on the path to formal Organization membership, a process that will surely prosper in the capable and very elegant hands of Ambassador Parola. Geneva’s loss is undoubtedly Paris’s gain.
Regarding Brazil’s accession to government procurement contracts [GPA], the UK was delighted to receive Brazil’s latest market access offer in June. To fully unlock the richness of our trading relationship, the UK would welcome further engagement to advance Brazil’s entry into the GPA, and in doing so become the first Latin American country to do so. All these proactive measures underline Brazil’s strong commitment to multilateralism.
In conclusion, Chairman, we wish Brazil the best as it continues on its trade-focused development path and we thank our colleagues here and in Brazil for their fruitful engagement in this important transparency exercise.
Finally, to get current in our conversation this morning, congratulations to the Selecao Canarinha, whose silky skills can only be matched by those in your team in Geneva. See you in the final in Qatar.
Thank you, Chairman.
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