Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has urged Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to purchase Brazilian beef during a meeting in Brasília, emphasizing the superior quality and cost-effectiveness of the country's exports. Brazil has been actively pursuing an agreement with Japan to access its markets for beef since 2005.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has seized the opportunity of a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to advocate for the purchase of Brazilian beef by Japan. The meeting, held in Brasilia, provided a platform for Brazil to emphasize its goals of securing access to the Japanese market, which has remained closed to Brazilian beef since 2005.
Lula, in a direct appeal to the prime minister, urged him to experience the culinary delights of Brazilian steak during his visit. "I don't know what you had for dinner last night," Lula stated, gazing at Kishida and the accompanying Japanese delegation. Turning to Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who also serves as Minister of Industry, Commerce, Development, and Trade, Lula instructed, "Please, take Prime Minister Fumio to eat steak at the best restaurant in Sao Paulo so that, the following week, he starts importing our beef."
Under Lula's leadership, Brazil has intensified its efforts to expand its beef exports to global markets. Since Lula assumed office in early 2023, 50 countries have lifted restrictions on Brazilian beef imports, primarily in Asia. According to Brazilian officials, Japan imports approximately 70% of its consumed beef, with 80% of those imports originating from the United States and Australia.
Brazil is the world's leading exporter of beef, supplying over 90 countries. In 2023, the country exported over 2 million pounds of beef, slightly surpassing the record set in the previous year. Lula's assertion that Brazilian beef is "cheaper and of better quality" than that purchased by Japan highlights the country's confidence in its product.
The cattle industry is a vital sector for Brazil, but its environmental impact has raised concerns. The industry has been associated with the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and the Cerrado, a vast tropical savanna region. To address these concerns, Japan and Brazil have agreed on Japanese support for restoration initiatives in degraded areas of the Cerrado.
Beyond beef exports, the meeting between Lula and Kishida also resulted in agreements for cooperation in cybersecurity and investment promotion. The two leaders discussed global challenges, such as climate change and sustainable development, and Kishida announced Japan's recent contribution of $3 million to Brazil's fund for protecting the Amazon rainforest.
Kishida expressed his solidarity with the victims of the recent floods in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, which have resulted in 37 deaths and dozens of missing persons. He emphasized the potential for enhanced cooperation between Japan and Brazil in environmental protection, climate change, and sustainable development.
Brazil is home to the world's largest Japanese community outside of Japan, with over 2.7 million Japanese citizens and their descendants. The first Japanese ships arrived in Brazil in 1908, and immigration reached its peak during the period between the two World Wars.
Prime Minister Kishida's visit to Brazil included a trip to Asuncion, Paraguay, where he attended a business summit, met with the Japanese community, and dined with President Santiago Peña. He returned to Brazil on Saturday morning to engage with the Japanese community in Sao Paulo, deliver a speech at the University of Sao Paulo, and attend a business meeting.
