The MDIC opened a Public Consultation on “International Negotiations on Trade and Sustainable Development”. According to the ministry, the Consultation will aim to “[…] guide the country’s representatives in international trade negotiations and debates in international organizations that deal with the interaction between Trade and Sustainable Development”, given its growing dynamics at the regional level. and international.

The Consultation arises from the efforts of the Brazilian state to meet the goals of “sustainability” and “development” and aims to influence the policies adopted by the ministries, guiding Brazilian representatives in international trade negotiations, in debates in international organizations, in economic groups (G20 and BRICS) and regional blocks (Mercosur), as well as assisting in the elaboration of clauses of trade agreements, seeking to guide, for example, policies to encourage and/or restrict imports and exports.

The ministry seeks to democratize its position in terms of adopting measures and stimuli related to the green economy and the adoption of climate policies, since the theme still brings impasses: some Brazilian companies have seen them with “good eyes”; others, however, have seen it as a challenging and risky scenario.

The Public Consultation has 50 questions and, so far, there has been low participation, with only 20 responses uploaded, which increases the importance of contributions.

One of its main points refers to the goal of reducing plastic pollution. The Public Consultation aims to find out if the respondents consider the incentives for plastic substitute products fair or if they generate problems related to competition and commercial defense, even if they export and/or import them, as well as if they agree with the list of products plastic substitutes (S6), or if they are aware of tariff barriers to import/export such substitutes.

The topic comes in handy at a time when the Global Plastics Treaty and its consequences for international trade are being discussed, and in the future such measures will have consequences for the commercialization of plastics and their chemical derivatives, such as plastic films, synthetic fibers and plastic materials machined, among other polymers.

Another objective of the Consultation is to understand the impacts of granting environmental subsidies (“Green Subsidies”), understand their different formats and how their incentive dynamics work in different sectors.

Currently, incentives such as Green Bonds and carbon credits are examples of success that have been fostered, for example, by paper manufacturers and ore producers.

The Consultation also deals with the “circular economy” concept, seeking to know the respondents’ interest in exporting and importing circular economy goods, including which barriers still exist that prevent such transactions. The Consultation wants to hear from the market which circular economy goods are most in demand, and understand whether there are competition risks if there is a reduction in barriers to the entry of foreign circular economy goods.

The subject is of interest to all sectors that demand better use of natural resources and the optimized reuse of raw materials as part of their current business strategy and stage of their production chain, as is the case of the tire industry.

Finally, the Consultation seeks to understand what are the current tariff barriers for exporting and/or importing products related to sustainable development, as well as understanding cross-border barriers related to services aimed at sustainability and the environment.

The subject is relevant to all companies that simultaneously have units in Brazil and in other countries, routinely importing and exporting products, in view of the advancement of the agenda at the international level, such as, for example, the new European measures on the subject.

Manifestations may be made by citizens, companies, associations, class entities, federations, confederations, associations, NGOs, academics, members of state and municipal governments, among others. The deadline for submitting contributions is August 4, 2023, through the Sistema Participa+Brasil.