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PROFILE Official Name: Geography People Government Economy (2000) PEOPLE AND HISTORY Four major groups make up the Brazilian population: the Portuguese, who
colonized Brazil in the 16th century; Africans brought to Brazil as slaves;
various other European, Middle Eastern, and Asian immigrant groups who have
settled in Brazil since the mid-19th century; and indigenous people of Tupi and
Guarani language stock. Intermarriage between the Portuguese and indigenous
people or slaves was common. Although the major European ethnic stock of Brazil
was once Portuguese, subsequent waves of immigration have contributed to a
diverse ethnic and cultural heritage. From 1875 until 1960, about 5 million Europeans emigrated to Brazil, settling
mainly in the four southern states of Sao Paulo, Parana, Santa Catarina, and Rio
Grande do Sul. Immigrants have come mainly from Italy, Germany, Spain, Japan,
Poland, and the Middle East. The largest Japanese community outside Japan is in
Sao Paulo. Despite class distinctions, national identity is strong, and racial
friction is a relatively new phenomenon. Indigenous full-blooded Indians,
located mainly in the northern and western border regions and in the upper
Amazon Basin, constitute less than 1% of the population. Their numbers are
declining as contact with the outside world and commercial expansion into the
interior increase. Brazilian Government programs to establish reservations and
to provide other forms of assistance have existed for years but are
controversial and often ineffective. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking nation in the Americas. About 80% of
all Brazilians belong to the Roman Catholic Church; most others are Protestant
or follow practices derived from African religions. Brazil was claimed for Portugal in 1500 by Pedro Alvares Cabral. It was ruled
from Lisbon as a colony until 1808, when the royal family, having fled from
Napoleon's army, established the seat of Portuguese Government in Rio de
Janeiro. Brazil became a kingdom under Dom Joao VI, who returned to Portugal in
1821. His son declared Brazil's independence on September 7, 1822, and became
emperor with the title of Dom Pedro I. His son, Dom Pedro II, ruled from 1831 to
1889, when a federal republic was established in a coup by Deodoro da Fonseca,
Marshal of the army. Slavery had been abolished a year earlier by the Regent
Princess Isabel while Dom Pedro II was in Europe. From 1889 to 1930, the government was a constitutional democracy, with the
presidency alternating between the dominant states of Sao Paulo and Minas
Gerais. This period ended with a military coup that placed Getulio Vargas, a
civilian, in the presidency; Vargas remained as dictator until 1945. From 1945
to 1961, Eurico Dutra, Vargas, Juscelino Kubitschek, and Janio Quadros were
elected presidents. When Quadros resigned in 1961, he was succeeded by Vice
President Joao Goulart. Goulart's years in office were marked by high inflation, economic stagnation,
and the increasing influence of radical political elements. The armed forces,
alarmed by these developments, staged a coup on March 31, 1964. The coup leaders
chose as president Humberto Castello Branco, followed by Arthur da Costa e Silva
(1967-69), Emilio Garrastazu Medici (1968-74), and Ernesto Geisel (1974-79) all
of whom were senior army officers. Geisel began a democratic opening that was
continued by his successor, Gen. Joao Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo (1979-85).
Figueiredo not only permitted the return of politicians exiled or banned from
political activity during the 1960s and 1970s, but also allowed them to run for
state and federal offices in 1982. At the same time, an electoral college consisting of all members of congress
and six delegates chosen from each state continued to choose the president. In
January 1985, the electoral college voted Tancredo Neves from the opposition
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) into office as President. However,
Neves became ill in March and died a month later. His Vice President, former
Senator Jose Sarney, became President upon Neves' death. Brazil completed its
transition to a popularly elected government in 1989, when Fernando Collor de
Mello won 53% of the vote in the first direct presidential election in 29 years.
In 1992, a major corruption scandal led to the impeachment and ultimate
resignation of President Collor. Vice President Itamar Franco took his place and
governed for the remainder of Collor's term culminating in the October 3, 1994
presidential elections, when Fernando Henrique Cardoso was elected President
with 54% of the vote. He took office January 1, 1995 and was re-elected in
October 1998 for a second 4-year term. Presidential elections will next be held
in October 2002. President Cardoso has sought to establish the basis for long-term stability
and growth and to reduce Brazil's extreme socioeconomic imbalances. His
proposals to Congress include constitutional amendments to open the Brazilian
economy to greater foreign participation and to implement sweeping reforms--
including social security, government administration, and taxation--to reduce
excessive public sector spending and improve government efficiency. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS Fifteen political parties are represented in Congress. Since it is common for
politicians to switch parties, the proportion of congressional seats held by
particular parties changes regularly. The following are the major political
parties: President Cardoso was elected with the support of a heterodox alliance of his
own center-left Social Democratic Party, the PSDB, and two center-right parties,
the Liberal Front Party (PFL) and the Brazilian Labor Party (PTB). Brazil's
largest party, the centrist Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), joined
Cardoso's governing coalition after the election, as did the center-right PPB,
the Brazilian Progressive Party, in 1996. Party loyalty is weak, and deputies
and senators who belong to the parties comprising the government coalition do
not always vote with the government. As a result, President Cardoso has had
difficulty, at times, gaining sufficient support for some of his legislative
priorities, despite the fact that his coalition parties hold an overwhelming
majority of congressional seats. Nevertheless, the Cardoso administration has
accomplished many of its legislative and reform objectives. States are organized like the federal government, with three government
branches. Because of the mandatory revenue allocation to states and
municipalities provided for in the 1988 constitution, Brazilian governors and
mayors have exercised considerable power since 1989. Presidential,
congressional, and gubernatorial elections last took place in October 1998.
Fernando Henrique Cardoso won the presidential election with approximately 53%
of the vote, while his closest challenger, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT), had
about 32%. The next national elections will be held in October 2002. Principal Government Officials Brazil maintains an embassy in the United States at 3006 Massachusetts Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-238-2700). Brazil maintains consulates
general in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles; and consulates in Miami, Houston,
Boston, San Francisco, and Orlando. ECONOMY The Cardoso administration has introduced to Congress a series of
constitutional reform proposals to replace a state-dominated economy with a
market-oriented one and to restructure all levels of government on a sound
fiscal sound basis. Congress has approved several amendments to open the economy
to greater private sector participation, including foreign investors. By the end
of last year, Brazil's privatization program, which included the sale of steel
and telecommunications firms, had generated proceeds of more than $90 billion.
Passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Law in mid-2000 improved fiscal discipline
at all three levels--federal, state, and municipal--and all three branches of
government. Some measures have been adopted to address large deficits in
Brazil's pension programs, but more remains to be done. Tax
reform--simplification--has been under debate for over 2 years, but there has
not yet been sufficient closure for final legislative action. Despite fiscal
austerity, the administration has acknowledged the need to invest more in
education and health to redress social inequity. Market opening and economic stabilization have significantly enhanced
Brazil's growth prospects. Brazil's trade has almost doubled since 1990. U.S.
direct foreign investment has increased from less than $19 billion in 1994 to an
estimated $35 billion through 2000. The United States is the largest foreign
investor in Brazil. Upcoming privatizations in the power and banking sectors
will likely elicit strong interest from U.S. firms. Brazil is endowed with vast agricultural resources. There are basically two
distinct agricultural areas. The first, comprised of the southern one-half to
two-thirds of the country, has a semi-temperate climate and higher rainfall, the
better soils, higher technology and input use, adequate infrastructure, and more
experienced farmers. It produces most of Brazil's grains and oilseeds and export
crops. The other, located in the drought-ridden northeast region and in the
Amazon basin, lacks well-distributed rainfall, good soil, adequate
infrastructure, and sufficient development capital. Although producing mostly
for self-sufficiency, the latter regions are increasingly important as exporters
of forest products, cocoa, and tropical fruits. Central Brazil contains
substantial areas of grassland with only scattered trees. The Brazilian
grasslands are less fertile than those of North America and are generally more
suited for grazing. Brazilian agriculture is well diversified, and the country is largely
self-sufficient in food. Agriculture accounts for 8% of the country's GDP, and
employs about one-quarter of the labor force in more than 6 million agricultural
enterprises. Brazil is the world's largest producer of sugarcane and coffee, and
a net exporter of cocoa, soybeans, orange juice, tobacco, forest products, and
other tropical fruits and nuts. Livestock production is important in many
sections of the country, with rapid growth in the poultry, pork, and milk
industries reflecting changes in consumers tastes. On a value basis, production
is 60% field crop and 40% livestock. Brazil is a net exporter of agricultural
and food products, which account for about 35% of the country's exports. Half of Brazil is covered by forests, with the largest rain forest in the
world located in the Amazon Basin. Recent migrations into the Amazon and
largescale burning of forest areas have placed the international spotlight on
Brazil. The government has reduced incentives for such activity and is beginning
to implement an ambitious environmental plan--and has just adopted an
Environmental Crimes Law that requires serious penalties for infractions. Brazil has one of the most advanced industrial sectors in Latin America.
Accounting for one-third of GDP, Brazil's diverse industries range from
automobiles, steel, and petrochemicals, to computers, aircraft, and consumer
durables. With the increased economic stability provided by the Plano Real,
Brazilian firms and multinationals have invested heavily in new equipment and
technology, a large share of which has been purchased from U.S. firms. Brazil has a diverse and sophisticated services industry as well. During the
early 1990s, the banking sector accounted for as much as 16% of GDP. Although
undergoing a major overhaul, Brazil's financial services industry provides local
firms a wide range of products and is attracting numerous new entrants,
including U.S. financial firms. The Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro stock exchanges
are undergoing a consolidation and the reinsurance sector is about to be
privatized. The Brazilian Government has undertaken an ambitious program to reduce
dependence on imported oil. Imports previously accounted for more than 70% of
the country's oil needs but now account for about 33%. Brazil is one of the
world's leading producers of hydroelectric power, with a current capacity of
about 58,000 megawatts. Existing hydroelectric power provides 92% of the
nation's electricity. Two large hydroelectrical projects, the 12,600 megawatt
Itaipu Dam on the Parana River--the world's largest dam--and the Tucurui Dam in
Para in northern Brazil, are in operation. Brazil's first commercial nuclear
reactor, Angra I, located near Rio de Janeiro, has been in operation for more
than 10 years. Angra II is under construction and, after years of delays, is
about to come on line. An Angra III is planned. The three reactors would have
combined capacity of 3,000 megawatts when completed. Proven mineral resources are extensive. Large iron and manganese reserves are
important sources of industrial raw materials and export earnings. Deposits of
nickel, tin, chromite, bauxite, beryllium, copper, lead, tungsten, zinc, gold,
and other minerals are exploited. High-quality coking-grade coal required in the
steel industry is in short supply. FOREIGN RELATIONS As Brazil's domestic economy has grown and diversified, the country has
become increasingly involved in international politics and economics. The United
States, western Europe, and Japan are primary markets for Brazilian exports and
sources of foreign lending and investment. Brazil has also bolstered its
commitment to nonproliferation through ratification of the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), signing a fullscale nuclear safeguard agreement
with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), acceeding to the Treaty of
Tlatelolco, and becoming a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime
(MTCR) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. U.S.-BRAZILIAN RELATIONS With the inauguration of Brazil's internationally oriented, reformist
President Fernando Henrique Cardoso on January 1, 1995, U.S.-Brazil engagement
and cooperation have intensified. This is reflected in the unprecedented number
of high-level contacts between the two governments, including President
Cardoso's state visit to Washington in April 1995, visits to Brazil by former
President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Secretaries
of State Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher, former Secretaries of
Commerce Ronald Brown and William Daley, former Secretary of Defense William S.
Cohen, and many other exchanges between U.S. and Brazilian cabinet and
subcabinet officials. Important topics of discussion and cooperation have
included trade and finance; hemispheric economic integration; United Nations
reform and peacekeeping efforts; nonproliferation and arms control; follow-up to
the 1994 Miami Summit of the Americas; common efforts to help resolve the
Peru-Ecuador border conflict; and support for Paraguay's democratic development,
human rights, counternarcotics, and environmental issues. During former President Clinton's October 1997 visit to Brazil, several
agreements were signed, including an Education Partnership Agreement, which
enhances and expands cooperative initiatives in such areas as standards-based
education reform, use of technology, and professional development of teachers; a
Mutual Legal Assistance treaty--ratified in 2001; and agreements on cooperation
in energy, the international space station, national parks, and government
reform. In April 2000 the United States and Brazil signed a Technical Safeguards
Agreement to permit U.S. commercial firms to participate in the development of
the Alcantara spaceport. During a visit of then-Under Secretary of State Timothy
Wirth to Brazil in October 1995, the two countries signed a Common Agenda on the
Environment, laying the foundation for cooperative efforts in environmental
protection. Brazil is a key player in hemispheric efforts to negotiate an FTAA
by 2005, and hosted the May 1997 FTAA Trade Ministerial in Belo Horizonte. President Cardoso has been willing to discuss race relations frankly. He
instituted an Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Race in 1995 and strengthened the
mandate of the government-funded Palmares Foundation, dedicated to the promotion
of Afro-Brazilian heritage. U.S. embassy public diplomacy programs seek to
support these efforts, which mirror former President Clinton's National Dialogue
on Race. Relations are advancing well in various aspects of scientific and technical
work. During his 1996 visit, former Secretary of State Christopher signed a
Space Cooperation agreement and initialed an agreement on Peaceful Uses of
Nuclear Energy. U.S. Embassy and Consulate Functions The consular section of the embassy provides vital services to the estimated
50,000 U.S. citizens residing in Brazil. Among other services, the consular
section assists Americans who wish to participate in U.S. elections while abroad
and provides U.S. tax information. Besides the U.S. residents living in Brazil,
some 150,000 U.S. citizens visit annually. The consular section offers passport
and emergency services to U.S. tourists as needed during their stay in Brazil. Principal U.S. Embassy Officials The U.S. embassy in Brasilia is located at SES Avenida das Nacoes, quadra
801, lote 3, Brasilia, DF, CEP: 70.403-900 (tel. 55-61-321-7272), (fax
55-61-321-2833). Internet: http://www.embaixada-americana.org.br/ There are U.S. consulates general in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and a
consulate in Recife. Consular agents are located in Manaus, Belem, Salvador,
Fortaleza, and Porto Alegre. Branch offices of the U.S. Information Service
(USIS) are located in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo. Branch offices of
the U.S. Foreign Commercial Services are located in Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Rio de
Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte. Other Business Contacts American Chamber of Commerce of Sao Paulov American Chamber of Commerce of Rio de Janeiro (a branch also is in Salvador)
TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained from the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-5225. For after-hours emergencies, Sundays and holidays, call 202-647-4000. Passport information can be obtained by calling the National Passport Information Center's automated system ($.35 per minute) or live operators 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EST) Monday-Friday ($1.05 per minute). The number is 1-900-225-5674 (TDD: 1-900-225-7778). Major credit card users (for a flat rate of $4.95) may call 1-888-362-8668 (TDD: 1-888-498-3648). It also is available on the internet. Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health Information for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280) is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800. Information on travel conditions, visa requirements, currency and customs regulations, legal holidays, and other items of interest to travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a country's embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. (for this country, see "Principal Government Officials" listing in this publication). U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas are encouraged to register at the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country (see "Principal U.S. Embassy Officials" listing in this publication). This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency. |
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