Baucus urges expanded trade relationship with Brazil

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Tuesday discussed expanding trade opportunities with Brazilian officials and wrapping up the Doha negotiations. 

"We need to work together to help conclude the Doha trade negotiations this year to help continue the global economic recovery," Baucus said in a statement. "A successful completion of the Doha trade negotiations will help the U.S. access the markets that matter most to American exporters, creating jobs in Montana and across the country. To move forward and complete the agreement, the United States needs increased market access from Brazil and other large emerging economies."  

Baucus met with Brazil’s ministers of foreign relations, finance, agriculture and deputy minister of trade on those issues, including how to work together to reduce tariff and non-tariff based barriers to agricultural products while promoting science-based regulation of agricultural biotech products.

He is urging renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences, a program that gives developing countries duty-free access to the U.S. market for certain products, during a meeting with Deputy Trade Minister Alessandro Teixeira. 

Baucus said Brazil provides a growing market for U.S. exports of consumer-ready processed food products as well as fresh and processed fruits and vegetables.

He is meeting with officials in Brazil and Colombia this week on various trade issues, including the U.S.-Colombia free-trade agreement and other key economic and trade issues.