Brazil

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat a report by the government and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports main export destinations origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Brazil.

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat a report by the government and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member’s major exports/imports main export destinations origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Brazil.

Le commerce électronique connaît une croissance rapide en Argentine et au Brésil et dans ces deux pays la part de la population qui effectue des transactions en ligne dépasse la moyenne enregistrée pour l’ensemble de l’Amérique latine. Les deux pays ont établi un cadre juridique pour la protection des données la réglementation d’Internet la protection des consommateurs la fiscalité du commerce électronique et les contrats et signatures électroniques. L’Argentine et le Brésil ont également soumis des propositions de négociations sur le traitement des transactions effectuées en ligne par le truchement d’accords de l’OMC et ont inclus des dispositions relatives au commerce électronique dans les accords de libre-échange (ALE). Cependant les différentes approches adoptées en matière de réglementation interne du commerce électronique et les divergences de positions exprimées lors des négociations internationales sont révélatrices des différences d’approches réglementaires qui ne feront qu’accroître l’incertitude juridique et partant limiter les investissements et l’expansion du marché dans ce secteur. Il existe une seule exception qui concerne la réglementation de la protection des données puisque les deux pays suivent les principes énoncés dans le Règlement général de l’Union européenne sur la protection des données (RGPD). Le meilleur moyen d’engager de nouvelles négociations entre les deux pays concernant la convergence des réglementations en matière de commerce électronique serait de le faire sous l’égide du Marché commun du Sud (MERCOSUR).

Since its previous Trade Policy Review in 2013 Brazil’s largely domestic demand-driven economy slowed down and entered a severe recession in 2015-16 triggered by deteriorating terms of trade and exacerbated by a bout of political uncertainty. Annual GDP growth dropped from 3% in 2013 to 0.9% in 2014 and then turned negative in 2015 and 2016 with consumption and gross fixed capital formation following a similar trend. The recession one of the most severe in Brazil’s history has been accompanied by a steep rise in inflation (8.7% in 2016) and unemployment (11.3% in 2016) as well as fiscal discipline challenges. While the Brazilian financial system was not significantly impacted by the economic downturn domestic lending became more cautious and borrower demand decreased.

El comercio electrónico está creciendo rápidamente en la Argentina y el Brasil y en ambos países la proporción de la población que participa en transacciones de comercio electrónico supera el promedio latinoamericano. Los dos países han establecido un marco jurídico para la protección de datos la reglamentación de Internet la protección de los consumidores la fiscalidad del comercio electrónico y los contratos y las firmas electrónicas. La Argentina y el Brasil también han presentado propuestas de negociación sobre el trato de las transacciones de comercio electrónico en los Acuerdos de la OMC y han incluido disposiciones sobre el comercio electrónico en sus acuerdos de libre comercio (ALC). Sin embargo las diferencias en la reglamentación interna del comercio electrónico y en las posiciones mantenidas en las negociaciones internacionales indican la existencia de enfoques normativos dispares que aumentarán la incertidumbre jurídica y por lo tanto limitarán la inversión en el sector y su expansión. Una excepción es la reglamentación sobre protección de datos en la que ambos países se basan en los principios establecidos en el Reglamento General de Protección de Datos (RGPD) de la Unión Europea. La mejor manera que tendrían los dos países de entablar nuevas negociaciones sobre la convergencia normativa en el ámbito del comercio electrónico sería a través del Mercado Común del Sur (MERCOSUR).

E-commerce is growing rapidly in Argentina and Brazil and in both countries the share of the population participating in e-commerce transactions exceeds the Latin American average. Both countries have established a legal framework for data protection regulation of the internet consumer protection taxation of e-commerce and contracts and e-signatures. Argentina and Brazil also have submitted proposals for negotiations over the treatment of e-commerce transactions in WTO Agreements and included e-commerce provisions in free trade agreements (FTAs). However different approaches to internal regulation of e-commerce and differences in positions in international negotiations indicate diverging regulatory approaches that will increase legal uncertainty and thus constrain investments and market expansion in the sector. An exception is the regulation of data protection where both countries are following principles laid out in the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Further negotiations between the two countries over regulatory convergence for e-commerce could best be undertaken through the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR).

The Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) was first established on a trial basis by the GATT contracting parties in April 1989. The Mechanism became a permanent feature of the World Trade Organization under the Marrakesh Agreement which established the WTO in January 1995.

Since its previous Trade Policy Review in 2013 Brazil’s largely domestic demand-driven economy slowed down and entered a severe recession in 2015-16 triggered by deteriorating terms of trade and exacerbated by a bout of political uncertainty. Annual GDP growth dropped from 3% in 2013 to 0.9% in 2014 and then turned negative in 2015 and 2016 with consumption and gross fixed capital formation following a similar trend. The recession one of the most severe in Brazil’s history has been accompanied by a steep rise in inflation (8.7% in 2016) and unemployment (11.3% in 2016) as well as fiscal discipline challenges. While the Brazilian financial system was not significantly impacted by the economic downturn domestic lending became more cautious and borrower demand decreased.