Brazil's trade with Southeast Asia should surpass the US and EU, projects Mauro Vieira

When receiving the representative of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), in Brasília, this Tuesday (18), the minister of foreign affairs, Mauro Vieira, projected that Brazil's trade with Southeast Asia should surpass business with the United States (USA) and the European Union (EU) “in the near future”.

The chancellor recalled that Brazilian trade with Asean, a bloc that brings together 11 Asian countries, increased 10 times between 2003 and 2025, rising from US$3 billion to US$38 billion.

"At this rate, commercial exchange is expected to surpass that with Brazil's traditional partners, such as the USA or the European Union, in the near future. Brazil already exports more to Singapore than to Germany. It exports more to Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand than to France", he said.

The speech took place after a meeting with the secretary general of Asean, Cambodian Kao Kim Hourn, on an agenda to deepen relations with Southeast Asia. Among the association's member states are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, East Timor and Cambodia.

Minister Mauro Vieira's meeting with Asean takes place amid the recent US tariffs against part of Brazilian exports, in a context in which Brazil is trying to diversify exports to minimize the economic impacts of Donald Trump's tariffs.

Vieira also expressed Brazil's interest in becoming a “dialogue partner” of Asean, a condition currently restricted to the USA, European Union, Japan, India, China, Canada, Russia, Australia and South Korea.

“Our regions share an interest in promoting sustainable development, expanding trade and investment flows and strengthening the Global South,” said Vieira.

Invitation from Brazil

The representative of Asean Kao Kim Hourn visits Brazil at the invitation of the Brazilian government with agendas that run from today until next Friday (21) and plans for meetings with State ministers, businesspeople and academics.

At the Itamaraty meeting, secretary general Kao Kim Hourn highlighted that he hopes to strengthen relations with Brazil.

"Asean attaches great importance to the partnership with Brazil. We have developed one of the most dynamic and sustainable relationships in Latin America," said the secretary-general.

For Kao Kim, Brazil and Asean can develop partnerships in the economic area, via trade and investments, as well as in the areas of innovation, sustainable development, food security, agriculture, renewable energy and climate action.

"I also emphasize that Asean and Brazil share a strong commitment to rules-based multilateralism, dialogue and international cooperation. This is a fundamental point for developed and emerging countries to face their common challenges together", added the Cambodian.

In the last 10 years, Asean countries have doubled their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), going from US$2.5 billion to US$4.5 billion, considering all Member States. Together, they have more than 700 million inhabitants.