Politics Put to One Side in Sign of Closer Ties Between Brazil and the U.S.

When the Brazilian diplomat Roberto Azevêdo clinched the biggest job in global trade last week – as director-general of the World Trade Organisation – he received a relatively warm response from Washington.

The US could not have been expected to do anything other than vote for Mr Azevêdo’s rival, Herminio Blanco, the former trade minister of Mexico.

But Washington’s decision to “join the consensus” when Mr Azevêdo was selected by the WTO and back the Brazilian candidate showed both respect for the man and for the emerging power he represents.

The growing sense of bonhomie between the two countries makes sense. For the US, Brazil is looking more than ever like a friendly face in an increasingly multipolar world, one that is tilting slowly towards east Asia. For Brazil, the US, with its technology, quality higher education and capital markets, is an ever more important partner in the effort to become more internationally competitive and escape the middle income trap in which it has languished for decades….

“It’s an important time between the US and Brazil,” says Eric Farnsworth, vice-president of the Council of Americas and Americas Society.

“Everything I see indicates that Washington views Brazil’s rise as a favourable development.”

Brazil’s independent stance, not only on these countries but in seeking to establish alternative power blocs, has grated on Washington. Ms Rousseff’s first overseas trip, for instance, was to Beijing rather than to its western trading partners. “There is a certain frustration in Washington,” says Mr Farnsworth. “Brazil seems to be as interested in developing a relationship with China as they are with the US. I don’t think most people would suggest the Chinese and US models are compatible….”

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