The Brazilian business mission is already in Washington, D.C., to open channels of dialogue and seek to reverse or reduce the 50% import tariffs on Brazilian products imposed by the U.S. government. Led by CNI, the group is composed of representatives from eight state industry federations, four unions, and 19 sector associations in Brazil. The mission also includes 35 Brazilian companies.

Firjan is represented by Rodrigo Santiago (photo), president of the federation’s Business Council for International Relations, who participated this Tuesday (9/2) in the mission’s first working meeting. The group met in Washington, D.C., with Brazil’s ambassador to the United States, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, and diplomat Roberto Azevedo, hired by CNI to defend the private sector in the U.S. government’s Section 301 investigation. The defense will take place at a hearing this Wednesday.

“The agenda includes meetings with U.S. business leaders and authorities to strengthen dialogue, assess trade impacts, and develop strategies to deepen the economic partnership between the two countries,” Santiago reported.