Brazil and China signed 37 deals covering agriculture, tech cooperation, trade and investments, infrastructure, industry, energy and mining, among other areas. Brazil received permission from China to export domestically-grown sorghum, grapes, sesame as well as fish products to Chinese buyers, Brazil’s agriculture ministry announced. The announcement was part of several deals signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Brasilia, where he held talks with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
For agriculture, the sorghum deal is most notable. Brazil produced only 4.4 MMT of sorghum in 2023-24, though this deal could help fuel greater production. Brazil only has a 0.29% share of the international sorghum market. China imported $1.83 billion of sorghum last year, mostly from the U.S., Brazil’s agriculture ministry said.
Brazilian negotiators have also tried to secure the export of other agricultural products, such as pork and beef offal and distillers dried grains. Since trade in these categories requires updated health protocols, however, progress is expected to be delayed until 2025.
Brazil decided last month not to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), citing concerns about potential repercussions for its relationship with Washington. But Brazil signed a protocol with China regarding “synergies” related to BRI, China’s overseas infrastructure investment strategy and Xi’s signature foreign policy plan, launched in 2013. The two leaders also announced the formation of two task forces dedicated to financial cooperation and productive, sustainable development. These groups will have a two-month deadline to identify priority Brazilian projects eligible for belt and road financing.
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