President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received, this Wednesday (28), the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Mélanie Joly, at the Palais du Planalto. The two men discussed environmental, defense, trade and investment programs between the two countries.

According to the Presidency of the Republic, Lula and Joly agreed on the need to organize business missions with the aim of expanding the potential of trade and investment relations between Brazil and Canada.

In 2022, trade between Brazil and Canada totaled US$10.56 billion, an increase of 40.9% over 2021, with a Brazilian surplus of US$232.1 million. Among the main products exported to Canada last year were gold; aluminum; sugar; semi-finished products, iron and steel; industrialized products and coffee. Imports from Canada, on the other hand, included fertilizers or chemical fertilizers, about 72% of the total; industrialized products; airplanes and chemicals.

In the conversation, the President and the Chancellor also touched on the environmental agenda, the Amazon summit and the commitment defined at the United Nations climate conferences (COP) on the contributions of rich countries to the preservation of the environment in countries with large forests, in addition to the possibility of increasing Canadian investments in the renewable energy sector in Brazil.

“The Minister underlined the common characteristics between Brazil and Canada, both major producers of food and energy, having large forests and concerned with improving the living conditions of indigenous populations”, informed the Presidency.

Lula and Joly also spoke about Haiti and the need to unite the efforts of different countries in favor of strengthening security and institutions in this Caribbean country.

During the meeting, the Minister transmitted to President Lula the invitation, made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for a visit to Canada. The Brazilian president returned the invitation to Trudeau.

Mélanie Joly is in the country for the fourth meeting of the Dialogue on the Brazil-Canada Strategic Partnership, the main mechanism for cooperation between nations. On Tuesday (27), she was at the Itamaraty Palace, in a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, when they signed a vast cooperation agreement in the field of defence.

There are still processes of dialogue and bilateral cooperation in the field of education; science, technology and innovation; military affairs and energy and mining.

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