President seeks to open Japanese market for Brazilian beef, advance in Mercosur-Japan agreement, promote Embraer and reinforce relations with Asia
The president (PT) landed on Sunday night (23.mar.2025) in Tokyo, Japan, where he will fulfill the agenda until Thursday (27.mar). Then he travels to Hanoi in Vietnam, returning to Brazil scheduled for Saturday (29.mar).
The foray to Asia will have a strong commercial character, with the possible advance in negotiations to open the Japanese and Vietnamese markets with Brazilian beef, the intensification of discussions for an agreement between Mercosur and Japan and the sale of aircraft to the 2 countries.
Lula will also take advantage of the international stage to defend multilateralism in the face of a reorganization of geopolitics since the beginning of the 2nd term of US President Donald Trump (Republican Party). The petista intends to show that Brazil dialogues and maintains robust businesses with important countries in Asia and is not just under the area of influence of China in the region.
The petista invited the presidents of the Chamber, (Republicans-PB), and Senate, (Brazil-AP Union), and their predecessors in the commands of the two houses, (PP-AL) and (PSD-MG).
Exportation of meat
In Japan, Lula that a Japanese sanitary mission visit Brazil soon. Local inspection is fundamental for the beginning of the release of the Japanese market for Brazilian meat.
About 500 entrepreneurs will participate in a business forum in the Japanese capital. Of the total, 100 must be Brazilian. Among them will be the owners of, Wesley Batista and Joesley Batista, the largest animal protein company in the world.
“There is a political commitment to advance this subject. Because Brazil is a great producer of agribusiness, very competitive, very safe and very responsible. We think this is something that is important and must be recognized. This depends on the understanding that is underway. I think the president’s visit certainly helps in this sense.”Said Secretary of Asia and Pacific Itamaraty, Eduardo Saboia, in an interview with journalists.
Brazil has self -declared itself as a free zone of foot -and -mouth disease without vaccination. Therefore, the government argues that the country meets all the conditions imposed by Japan to become an exporter for that country.
“Brazil has been improving its health condition for many years. Today has the health zone health condition without vaccination, a condition of the World Animal Health Organization, which should already enable us to have access to the Japanese market. But this depends on a series of possibilities, including a health assessment health mission,” said Savoy.
According to data from the Brazilian government, Brazil has 20% of world production of beef and has 25% of the world market of this product. The Japanese market imports US $ 4 billion a year and Brazil has no participation in it.
On the trip, Lula also intends to expand the pork market. Currently, only Santa Catarina has sanitary authorization to export to Japan. But according to Saboia, other Brazilian states are prepared to export as well. The sanitary mission would also act to analyze this sector.
According to Mercosur
The economic block formed by Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia negotiates a trade agreement with the Japanese. Conversations have been underway for a few years, but the group’s announcement with the European Union at the end of last year can help press for a breakthrough with Japan. Although there is some advance in conversations, they are still initial.
BRICS
Lula intends to invite Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, to the BRICS summit that will be held in Rio on July 6 and 7. The country was invited in 2024 to become a partner of the group that brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and, more recently, began to include as Saudi Arabia partners, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran and Indonesia. But the Vietnamese government has not yet announced an official position.
Lula’s entourage
Lula will take a state trip to Japan, the highest degree of Japanese diplomacy. It will be received in Tokyo by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako in the Imperial Palace. It will also have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
This is the 1st Reception of State that Japan has made since 2019, when he received Donald Trump, still in his first term.
According to Itamaraty, Japan is Brazil’s most traditional commercial partner in Asia and is the 9th origin of foreign investments in the country, with US $ 35 billion in investments in 2023. Commercial flow by 2024 was $ 11 billion.
Japan is the 2nd commercial partner of Brazil in the region, behind China, and the 11th in the world.
