The Importance of the Brazil-U.S. Bilateral Economic Relationship

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte on Friday, October 29 for a presentation with H.E. Nestor Forster, Jr., the Ambassador of Brazil to the United States, as he shares his insight on Brazil’s role in the world, its diplomatic and economic relationship with the U.S., and ongoing challenges for Latin America in this post-pandemic environment.

The United States was the first country to recognize Brazil’s independence in 1822. Today, as two of the largest democracies and economies in the Western Hemisphere, both countries share ties that have expanded economic growth and prosperity, strengthened security and defense collaboration, and promoted international peace and respect for human rights.

From an economic perspective, the U.S. is Brazil’s second-largest trading partner and its second-largest export market, with two-way trade in goods and services being $77.3 billion in 2020. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis counted $70.7 billion of U.S. direct investment in Brazil as of 2020 on a historical cost basis; the Brazil Central Bank measured the total at $145.1 billion as of 2019.

What’s next for Brazil?

Program Information: 

Date:
Friday, October 29, 2021
VIP Reception:
11:30 – 12:00 PM ET
Lunch & Presentation: 
12:00 – 1:30 PM E.T.
Location:
Charlotte City Club
121 W Trade St.
Suite #3100
Charlotte, NC 28202

Cost:
$55 (WACC Member Rate)
$75 (Non-Member Rate)
$35 (WACC Student Member / Teacher Member / YPWACC Member Rate)

  • Please call 704-687-772 for credit card payments over the phone.
  • Checks can be mailed to “World Affairs Council of Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., CHHS 227, Charlotte, NC 28223.”

 

 

 

Biography: 

Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 1963, Ambassador Forster graduated from the Brazilian Diplomatic Academy (Instituto Rio Branco) in 1986. As a diplomat, he served in Canada, Costa Rica, and the United States, where he was posted three times to the Embassy in Washington, as well as to the Brazilian consulates in Hartford (CT) and New York (NY).

His diplomatic experience covers areas such as trade negotiations, intellectual property, financial policy, political affairs, international law, consular affairs, administration, and information technology. After starting his career in consular affairs, Forster was posted twice to the Office f the President of Brazil (1990-92 and 2002), having also served as chief of staff
at the Office of the Attorney General. Most recently, he headed the Foreign Ministry’s Information Technology Division. Ambassador Forster has led numerous Brazilian delegations to regional and multilateral meetings.

In 2006, Nestor Forster successfully concluded his high studies dissertation on “Development Finance” at the Rio Branco diplomatic academy. He also coauthored the Official Style Guide of Brazil’s federal administration, in use for almost 30 years, and participated in the first institutionalized Brazilian presidential transition team in 2002, which resulted in the book “Transition and Democracy: institutionalizing the transferring of power.” He has also appeared as guest speaker at Columbia University, Toronto University, University of Alberta,
Université Laval à Montreal, and Instituto Rio Branco.

Ambassador Forster was the Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Brazil in Washington from June 2019 to October 2020. He is the Ambassador of Brazil to the United States of America since October 2020.

Nestor Forster is married to Maria Theresa. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.