OF THE DISTANCES AND PROXIMITIES, EAST ASIA

The focus of the week was the meeting of the Presidents of the USA and Brazil in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a country where, with all progress, there is the death penalty for traffickers and there were, some time ago, titanic scandals in the financial area. The meeting was of statesmen, Brazil showed its historical face, of a country that solves its problems with diplomacy and now the ball will roll in tariff negotiations. This takes time, anxiety doesn't help, and it won't even have short-term results. Meanwhile, the less you use the event for electoral purposes and short-term political benefits, the better. Paraphrasing a television sketch, shut up, Magda.

But, before Malaysia, Brazil's entourage passed through Indonesia. The speeches there seemed from the time of the non-alignment of Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia and Sukarno, president of Indonesia. But, apart from that, the Brazilian economic attack, especially the partnerships in the area of energy, food, defense, and no one mentioned the 45 ethanol plants that Brazilians are renovating there, was excellent. Almost a successful case.

The most important fact of this trip for Trump, in addition to the peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, was to settle the trade agreements with three Asian giants of the world economy: Japan, with a new Prime Minister, South Korea and China. These understandings are not a simple victory of Trumpism, but they put a certain order in the very troubled relations of world economics. According to what was agreed or not, now the rules have become a little clearer for the world to walk. This has a huge benefit for us, despite the fact that relations between Brazil and the USA are not yet stabilized, they are moving towards it.

And within this circle, the victory of the Argentine libertarians in the midterm elections was basically a Trump victory. Argentine politics, with 40 billion US dollars, gaining stability, can only be beneficial for Brazil. And for South America, where the two largest countries maintain their democratic course, and even under the shadow of the largest aircraft carrier in the Caribbean, which the Americans put, the continent can find its stability. How will relations be with the European Union, which will meet in Colombia in early November with Latin American countries, and with China, a fundamental economic partner, is another issue. And in this the tariff negotiations with the US will be tough, not only because of them, but to reconcile here what will be sold, such as ethanol, or markets for North American commodities. Friends yes, but we are competitors too.