Secretary Raimondo names new US private sector co-chair to US Brazil CEO Forum

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo today announced Mauro Gregorio, Chief Executive Officer of the Dow Silicones Corporation, as the new U.S. private sector co-chair of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum. As the new U.S. private sector co-chair, Gregorio and his team will work together with the U.S. Government to coordinate, organize, and plan the activities of the U.S. Section in preparation for the 12th CEO Forum meeting to take place in Washington, D.C., in February 2022.

“I look forward to engaging with Gregorio and the members of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum as we work to encourage bilateral commerce and make the 12th CEO Forum a success,” stated Secretary Raimondo. “The Forum continues to be an important tool that informs our governments on how to strengthen our economies and ensure conditions for trade continue to improve and support all workers.”

“It is an honor to work with Secretary Raimondo and the Biden Administration to deepen our trade ties with Brazil,” stated Mauro Gregorio. “On behalf of all the members of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum, we would like to reiterate our commitment to working to build mutually beneficial trade cooperation, eliminate barriers to our resilient supply chains, and advance opportunities for workers in the United States and Brazil.”

Launched in 2007, the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum consists of up to 24 CEOs from the United States and Brazil who provide joint recommendations to the two governments to strengthen the U.S.-Brazil economic and trade relationship. The Forum has ensured consistent and sustained engagement between the United States and Brazilian governments on a number of important issues, including visa and tax reform, regulatory practices, customs procedures, education, energy, defense trade, and infrastructure.

As the United States’ ninth largest export market, Brazil offers U.S. companies tremendous opportunities. In 2020, U.S. goods exports to Brazil totaled $35 billion and in 2019, U.S. services exports to Brazil totaled $24.6 billion. As of 2019, Brazil was the fifth fastest growing source of foreign direct investment in the United States. Top U.S. exports to Brazil in 2020 included chemicals, metals, aircraft and spacecraft, machinery, and petroleum and coal products.