Press Release

Secretary Gutierrez Travels to Brazil for Third U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum to Address Bilateral Trade

WASHINGTON—U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced that he will chair the U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue Ministerial Meeting and co-chair the third meeting of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum with Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs Dan Price in Sao Paulo, Oct. 9-10, 2008. Gutierrez will discuss ways to strengthen the U.S.-Brazil economic relationship between senior government officials and business leaders from both nations.

“The United States enjoys a strong commercial relationship with Brazil, representing more than $50 billion in bilateral trade in 2007,” Gutierrez said. “The Commercial Dialogue and CEO Forum will allow our two nations to work together on expanding trade, increasing investment flows and delivering opportunities to our citizens.I look forward to participating in these important events.”

During the U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue Ministerial Meeting, Gutierrez will discuss with Brazilian government leaders ways to continue to increase commercial opportunities for U.S. companies in Brazil.

The U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum was created to bring together American and Brazilian business leaders to identify ways to strengthen economic ties between the two countries. Forum participants will discuss the elimination of trade barriers, and explore opportunities to streamline and increase bilateral trade.

Gutierrez will visit Rio de Janeiro to deliver the keynote address at the American Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008.

Background:
Total trade between the United States and Brazil was $50.3 billion in 2007, an increase of 10 percent from the previous year. U.S. exports to Brazil in 2007 were $24.6 billion, an increase of 28 percent from the previous year. The United States imported $25.6 billion in goods from Brazil in 2007. Brazil ended 2007 ranked as the 13th largest export market for the United States while ranking as the 16th largest market among importers to the United States.

For additional information about the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum and the U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue Ministerial Meeting, please visit www.trade.gov.