Jair Bolsonaro, who was sworn in on 1 January, said on Twitter the World Economic Forum in Davos next week would be “a great opportunity” to open up trade talks.
He said he wanted “bilateral trade with the entire world without ideological bias”.
Although the largest economy in Latin America, Brazil is also one of the world’s most restrictive. The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank in the US, last year ranked the country 153 out of 180 countries in its Index of Economic Freedom.
Será uma excelente oportunidade. Este é o caminho que buscamos! Comércio bilateral com o mundo todo sem o viés ideológico! https://t.co/5ZfJ7LKdWL
— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) 12 January 2019
Bolsonaro pledged in his inaugural speech to fight corruption, clamp down on crime and build a society “without discriminate or division”.
He said: “Brazil will return to being a country free of ideological constrictions. I will divide power in a progressive, conscientious and responsible way.”
The World Economic Forum is an annual meeting bringing together public and private sectors leaders to discuss the global economy, including trade.
US Donald Trump has said he would not be going to the Davos forum because of the partial federal government shutdown. However, analysts have said US trade negotiations with China could still take place in Davos.
French president Emmanuel Macron has also cancelled his trip to the Swiss alps, citing a busy schedule including the national debates launched in response to the country-wide “yellow vest” protests.
