THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH BRAZIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 034394 E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2019 TAGS: ECON ENRG PREL SUBJECT: THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH BRAZIL AMBASSADOR PATRIOTA Classified By: WHA PDAS Craig Kelly, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) March 20, 2009, 12:30p.m., Washington, DC. ¶2. (U) Participants: United States: Deputy Secretary Steinberg WHA Acting A/S Craig Kelly D Staff Lourdes Cue Brazil Desk David Schnier (notetaker) Brazil: Ambassador Antonio Patriota PolCounselor Carlos Ceglia ¶3. (C) Summary: Deputy Secretary Steinberg met March 20 with Brazilian Ambassador Antonio Patriota to follow-up on the President's March 14 meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Patriota pushed for further coordination on G-20 and Summit of the Americas outcomes, raised concerns with a draft EPA rule Brazil believes will adversely affect trade in biofuels, and asked that we resume our strategic dialogues on Africa and the Middle East. End Summary. -------------- -- Coordination on G-20 and Summit of the Americas -------------- -- ¶4. (C) Following on a suggestion of both Presidents during their March 14 meeting, Patriota proposed the Secretary and Brazilian Foreign Minister Amorim meet to discuss Summit of the Americas outcomes on April 1 or 2 just prior to the G-20 summit in London. He noted the Brazilian G-20 sherpa met with his U.S. counterpart in Washington on March 16, and will return shortly to meet with Treasury Department officials. Steinberg described the U.S. ambition to bring a strong human dimension to the Summit of the Americas by keeping the focus on issues like addressing inequality and poverty. -------------- EPA Rule-making on Biofuels -------------- ¶5. (C) Brazil is concerned an EPA draft rule on the classification of Brazilian ethanol will sharply curtail trade in biofuels and deal a severe political blow to our bilateral biofuels cooperation. The GOB believes the EPA process is politically motivated, and would like an opportunity for Brazilian scientists to present counter-arguments. -------------- Venezuela, Haiti -------------- ¶6. (C) Following on a request POTUS made of President Lula during their March 14 meeting, Patriota said the Government of Brazil had approached Caracas on Venezuelan reticence to grant visas for U.S. diplomats. Without providing specifics, Patriota indicated "there seems to be cause for some optimism" on the subject. Turning to Haiti, Patriota indicated the GOB is eager coordinate with WHA ahead of the April Haiti Donors' Conference in mid-April. Steinberg noted the our interest in improving the situation in Haiti, and welcomed Brazil's engagement. -------------- Other High-Level Dialogues -------------- ¶7. (C) The Government of Brazil has named a new U/S for Political Affairs (Note: Vera Machado),and Patriota asked that we resume our P-level strategic dialogue as soon as possible. The GOB also want to resume our Assistant Secretary-level dialogues on Africa and Middle East, when appropriate personnel are in place. Deputy Foreign Minister Samuel Guimaraes, who has not visited the United States during his six years in the number two position in the foreign ministry, has asked to meet with Deputy Secretary Steinberg, which the Deputy welcomed. CLINTON