In addition to the political polarity that precedes the elections in Brazil, several world economic issues stand out as important challenges for the next Chief Executive who will assume command of the country in 2023. Brazil has an important chance to play a leading role in the international context and not may miss this economic logic that gives the country unprecedented relevance.
While the United States will decrease by 2% and Europe by more than 3% next year, Brazil will grow by 2% and should be responsible for supplying 20% of the world’s grains. The country set a record of current, surplus and exports in 2021. With US$ 280.4 billion in exports and US$ 219.4 billion in imports, Brazil reached US$ 499.8 billion in trade flows and US$ 61 billion of trade balance in the year.
Brazil will have a huge responsibility in the political and economic restructuring of what I consider a new economic reality and relations between countries.
The Brazilian foreign trade figures closed the year 2021 pointing to a record trade flow (sum of exports and imports) of US$ 499.8 billion and a surplus balance – also a record – of US$ 61 billion. According to data from the Ministry of Economy’s Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex), released recently, there was a record in exports, with US$ 280.4 billion, while imports reached US$ 219.4 billion, the fifth best result in the historical series. , which started in 1989.
The Brazilian trade flow grew 35.8% over the previous year and surpassed the record of US$ 481.6 billion in 2011. The trade balance rose 21.1% compared to 2020 and was above the record of US$ 56 billion in 2017. In exports, the increase was 34% compared to the previous year, leaving behind the record of US$ 253.7 billion of 2011. Imports, on the other hand, rose 38.2% compared to 2020 and had the same biggest result since 2014, when it reached US$ 230.8 billion. The record for imported value was in 2013, of US$ 241.5 billion.
In this perspective, Brazil will have a huge responsibility in the political and economic restructuring of what I consider a new economic reality and relations between countries. The next president must have an international vision and a logic of interest that is as independent as possible and that prioritizes Brazil’s, but understanding Brazil’s responsibility in this situation.
It cannot get lost between the US-China crisis or the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Brazil needs to respond with serenity, action and a sense of opportunity. The moment calls for intelligence and responsibility so that Brazil can actually achieve this much-needed role.
Carlo Barbieri, political analyst, economist and lecturer, holds a master’s degree in International Law, chairman of the board of the Aquila Oxford Group. He is the author of the book “The New Structure of World Power”, which will be released soon.
