On July 4^th, 2018, the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) presented to Brazil’s presidential candidates the institution’s proposals for the 2018 elections. The event gathered approximately two thousand business leaders in Brasilia and has been a tradition since 1994.

A total of 43 proposals were presented to the candidates in the occasion, 13 of which refer to Industrial Policy, Innovation, and Foreign Trade. Regarding this scope, the industry’s recommendations entail reinforcing the capacity for innovation, fostering economic digitalization, revamping the public purchase model, guaranteeing intellectual property protection, strengthening foreign trade governance, prioritizing trade agreements, eliminating trade barriers, overcoming the obstacles to Brazilian investments abroad, enhancing the trade defense system, providing dependable export financing mechanisms, and simplifying trade rules and procedures.

The remaining proposals concern legal certainty, education, natural resources and environment, work relations, government efficiency, financing mechanisms, taxation, and infrastructure.

Foreign policy intentions vary widely among candidates. Former president Lula, who is unlikely to be allowed to run due to legal charges, but still leads current polls, defends deepening south-south cooperation, strengthening the BRICS and empowering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Jair Bolsonaro, the runner-up, advocates for immigration policies similar to those adopted by Donald Trump in the United States, integration with Latin American countries that are free from dictatorships and Brazil’s withdrawal from the UN. Marina Silva believes in attempting a trade agreement with the Pacific Alliance, securing a seat in the UN’s Security Council and gathering efforts among Latin American nations to provide humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.

Other candidates also defend doubling down on the ongoing negotiations with the European Union for a trade agreement with the Mercosur, rebuilding commercial relations with Africa, seeking commercial independence from China and the United States, among other measures.

Source: National Confederation of Industry (CNI), Valor Economico