U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo met virtually today with Brazilian Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes. During the call, Secretary Raimondo informed Minister Guedes of her recent appointment of three new private sector members to the U.S. Section of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum. The Secretary and Minister Guedes also discussed their mutual commitment to continue to work through the Forum and U.S.-Brazil CEO Commercial Dialogue to grow bilateral trade and investment.

The three new CEO Forum appointees will join the other U.S. private sector members and the U.S. Government to coordinate, organize, and plan the activities of the U.S. Section in preparation for the 12th U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum, intended to take place in early February 2022. Secretary Raimondo and Minister Guedes also agreed that they will strive to hold an in-person meeting in Washington, D.C., also tentatively scheduled in early February 2022.

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Carter, Robert Ford, and Ken Xie as new members of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum,” Secretary Raimondo said. “Their respective experiences in the transportation, medical, and cybersecurity sectors will be an asset to the Forum, and I look forward to working with them as we seek to deepen our trade relationship with Brazil.”

New U.S. Section Members of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum
• Michael Carter, President, Amsted Rail Co. Inc.
• Robert B. Ford, President and CEO, Abbott
• Ken Xie, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Fortinet Inc.

Launched in 2007, the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum consists of up to 24 CEOs from the United States and Brazil who provide joint recommendations to the two governments to strengthen the U.S.-Brazil economic and trade relationship. The Forum has seen success opening discussions between the United States and Brazilian governments on several important issues, including visa and tax reform, customs procedures, education, energy, defense trade, and infrastructure.

As the United States’ ninth largest export market, Brazil offers U.S. companies tremendous opportunities. In 2020, U.S. goods exports to Brazil totaled $35 billion and in 2019, U.S. services exports to Brazil totaled $24.6 billion. As of 2019, Brazil was the fifth fastest growing source of foreign direct investment in the United States. Top U.S. exports to Brazil in 2020 included chemicals, metals, aircraft and spacecraft, machinery, and petroleum and coal products.

International Trade Administration
The International Trade Administration (ITA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. ITA has more than 2,200 employees assisting U.S. exporters in more than 100 U.S. cities and 75 markets worldwide. For more information on ITA visit www.trade.gov.