Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SAOPAULO172
2007-03-05 16:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Sao Paulo
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: PRESIDENT BUSH'S IN

Tags:  KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR 
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VZCZCXYZ0015
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSO #0172 0641624
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051624Z MAR 07
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6513
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 7621
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 7869
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 2736
UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000172 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: PRESIDENT BUSH'S IN
BRAZIL; SAO PAULO


UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000172

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: PRESIDENT BUSH'S IN
BRAZIL; SAO PAULO



1. "Ethanol And Diplomacy"

The lead editorial in liberal, largest national circulation daily
Folha de S. Paulo maintained (3/5): "Agriculture and trade will be
the prevailing issues during President George W. Bush's visit this
week in Brazil. Biofuel will be the preferential topic of Presidents
Lula and Bush talks because it will allow them to show an apparent
concern with the global warming question. Also in the agenda will be
trade disputes that disturb this ethanol-propelled diplomacy....
Bush and Lula are expected to announce memoranda of intentions and
perhaps some concrete step towards research on ethanol produced from
cellulose, which is even more promising.... Uniting research efforts
paves the way so that the two nations maintain their dominance in
the sector. Moreover, measures aimed at standardizing ethanol to
make it a true international commodity may also be agreed upon. More
than production, it is in both Brazil and the U.S.'s interest to
lead the sale of technology and investment in order to produce
ethanol in other nations in Central America and Africa. Such future
common interests, however, collide with present differences.
Brazilian ethanol is more competitive than that produced in the
U.S..... Even paying a 14 cent import tariff per liter, Brazilian
ethanol producers exported in 2006 1.8 billion liters to the U.S.,
where additional 13 cents are subsidized per every ethanol liter
produced from corn. Bush prefers that protectionist measures not be
discussed during his meetings with Lula. Not only because they
contradict his free trade discourse, but also because they result
from a U.S. Congressional decision that will be effective until
2009."


2. "The Lame Duck's Visit"

Liberal, largest national circulation daily Folha de S. Paulo's
Washington correspondent Sergio Davila opined (3/5): "Identifying
his next international destination is not an easy task for the staff
of a lame duck president.... Despite the fact that he will remain
almost two years in the White House, negative popularity levels, two
failed wars in the resume, and the lack of political support to
influence the 2008 presidential elections have made Bush a premature
lame duck president. This is the leader who will arrive in Sao Paulo
this Thursday to launch the Lula-Bush bilateral biofuel memorandum.
Then, he will depart to establish the carefully chosen 'positive
agenda' in a Latin America that he ignored. This is why Argentina
and obviously the 'little evil axis' formed by Venezuela, Bolivia
and Ecuador have been excluded from the trip. In Brazil, the
'ethanol diplomacy' will be the highlight. But, pay attention: even
in this topic less optimism and more skepticism should be adopted.
Bush will offer what he does not have while Lula will ask for what
Bush cannot give."


3. "Bush and Lula or Lula and Bush"

Liberal, largest national circulation daily Folha de

S. Paulo's political columnist Eliane Cantanhede commented (3/4):
"Bush will visit Brazil on Thursday, and Lula will visit Washington
on March 31. While Hugo Chvez involves Argentine Nestor Kirchner,
Bolivian Evo Morales and Ecuadorian Rafael Correa with oil, Lula and
Bush embrace biofuel. Brazil and the U.S. will discuss the
standardization of their ethanol to transform the product into a
commodity.... Chvez talks with his partners from an upper
opposition provided by his oil. Lula will try to talk with Bush on
an equal basis on Brazilian ethanol and total flex fuel cars
technology, by proposing a partnership that goes beyond the two
nations' borders and extends throughout the continent and Africa. It
may seem megalomania, but it is not. It is a feasible plan from an
economic and commercial point of view, in addition to making
complete geopolitical sense. For Brazil, because it is a way for it
to perform a leadership role. For the U.S., because it is a way of
escaping the oil trap, since both the Arabs and Venezuela, its main
suppliers, do not seem trustworthy."
McMullen