Donohue's S?o Paulo Speech Promotes Doha Pact, Trade with Brazil as Keys to Recovery

U.S. Chamber President Urges Brazil's Leaders to Further Expand Its Global Role

São Paulo, Brazil—U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue applauded Brazil's growing role on the world stage and urged its leaders to take further steps to expand commerce with the United States and help forge global solutions to challenges such as energy security, the protection of intellectual property, and the fight against protectionism.

"We must renew our commitment to the successful conclusion of the Doha Round, which would be a stimulus package for the entire world," Donohue said in a speech today before the American Chamber of Commerce in São Paulo. "Brazil must continue to play a leadership role in moving an agreement forward."

Donohue also urged Brazil and the United States to negotiate bilateral tax and investment treaties and asked Brazil to address remaining commercial impediments such as cumbersome customs processes and concerns about intellectual property protections.

"We can significantly broaden and deepen commercial relations between our countries if both sides work to make their economies even more open and competitive," he said.

While in Brazil, Donohue met with senior government ministers, Governor José Serra of the State of Sao Paulo, and leading Brazilian business organizations. Later today he will meet with top energy executives in Rio de Janeiro as well as the American Chamber of Commerce there before traveling to Colombia where he will hold talks on the pending Colombia-U.S. Trade Promotion Agreement with President Álvaro Uribe.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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