Business Interests Ask Brazil, US to Modernize Customs

Brazilian and U.S. business organizations are asking their two countries to reach a trade deal in 2020, “with priority on modernizing trade and customs, establishing good regulatory practices, creating rules for digital trade, and combating corruption,” they said in a letter sent last week and released to the public on April 27. “These trade disciplines can be achieved without requiring either U.S. legislation or Mercosur’s involvement, and they would substantially reduce unnecessary costs and enhance bilateral trade and investment,” they said. Brazil is in a customs union known as Mercosur, or South American Common Market, and thus cannot lower its tariffs without other countries' consent.