Brazil sees issues related to import of US biofuels 'practically resolved'
Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said on Tuesday that unspecified issues related to the country's imports of U.S. biofuels were "practically resolved".
He did not provide details, but according to the Development, Industry, Trade and Services Ministry, which is led by Alckmin, his remarks referred to easing rules under the RenovaBio program to address U.S. concerns.
RenovaBio encourages the use of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel instead of fossil fuels in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In its National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, the Trump administration flagged the program as a non-tariff barrier that put U.S. producers at a disadvantage, urging Brazil to revise its regulations.
Until June this year, foreign biofuel exporters needed an intermediary - typically a Brazilian importer - in order to obtain certification and issue decarbonization credits.
But a mid-June resolution by oil regulator ANP allowed foreign exporters to be certified directly, which the ministry told Reuters has already leveled the playing field for them.
Brazil engaged in U.S. talks. Speaking at an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Brazil, Alckmin also said that non-tariff issues were important in talks with the U.S., including matters related to data centers, rare earth elements and big tech companies.
He reiterated that Brazil remains engaged in the negotiations, after Washington last week added more than 200 products to the list exempt from a 50% tariff it had earlier imposed.
At the same event, the Foreign Ministry's head of trade policy, Fernando Pimentel, noted that Brazil does not yet have clear requests from the U.S. as part of the talks and is awaiting consultations under a Section 301 investigation.
The probe was launched by the U.S. earlier this year to examine a wide range of Brazilian policies, including its hugely popular instant payments system Pix, ethanol market access, illegal deforestation and intellectual property protection.
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