Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SAOPAULO199
2007-03-15 11:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Sao Paulo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: PRESIDENT BUSH IN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0019 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHSO #0199 0741110 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 151110Z MAR 07 FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6569 INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 7685 RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 7895 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 2742
UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000199
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 IN
BRAZIL, ETHANOL PARTNERSHIP; SAO PAULO
"Ethanol and the Brazil-US relationship"
Former Brazilian Ambassador in Washington Roberto Abdenur commented
in business-oriented Valor Economico: "The Brazil-US understanding
about biofuels requires a more comprehensive analysis of what it
means for the evolution of bilateral relations. If it is used well
by Brazil, the initiative may help to provide more dynamism and
diversification to our sales to the US, which have been stagnant for
a decade at just 1.4% of the US market.... The understanding is part
of a previously launched more comprehensive Brazilian initiative -
the Biofuels Forum, which, in addition to the two nations, includes
India, China, South Africa and the European Union in an effort to
globalize ethanol and enlarge the use of biodiesel. The new
partnership shows a little noticed reality in the relations between
Brazil and the US: the relationship, which was formerly highly
asymmetric and 'unilateral' (in the sense that the US was the only
supplier of investment, know how and technology),has become
increasingly more balanced and is gaining more mutuality.... The
memorandum of understanding on biofuels creates, for the first time,
a new dimension in the relations between the two nations: the joint
work towards development and to reduce poverty in Latin America, the
Caribbean, Africa and Asia.... Some observers' disappointment with
the fact that President Bush has not committed himself to eliminate
or reduce tariffs on ethanol imported from Brazil is misplaced. Bush
simply could not make concessions in a matter where the decision
power belongs to the Congress.... Barriers like those affecting our
ethanol and orange juice exports will naturally fall: they will be
removed as a result of developments in the US economy, in Brazil and
in the world."
McMullen