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Statement By Congressman Kildee on Brazil Trade Agreement

October 19, 2020

FLINT—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, issued the following statement today after reports that the Trump administration will announce a trade agreement with Brazil:

"President Trump pursuing a trade accord with Brazil is yet another example of the President's obsession with authoritarian leaders and disregard for Congress. The Bolsonaro government has a terrible human rights, labor and environmental record. That is why I, along with my colleagues on Ways and Means, sent a letter to President Trump in June, asking not to pursue any trade agreement with the Bolsonaro government. We should not be rewarding Brazil's autocratic government with expanded economic and diplomatic ties.

"Furthermore, this trade accord does nothing to help Michigan corn and sugar growers who, due to unfair trade barriers, have been unable to sell their products in Brazil. The United States should use our trading power to pursue trade agreements with those that share our values, not deal with countries that continue a race to the bottom hurting workers."