I have the privilege of serving as Ambassador to Brazil at a time when our bilateral relationship is excellent. Of course, two great countries with strong diplomatic and business ties will always have some differences in both approach and substance. Our agricultural trade relationship suffers from this malady.
Agriculture is a pillar of the U.S. economy, as it is for Brazil.
And, as we work together to bring down barriers around the world, I expect to see great benefits for Brazilian and American farmers and consumers, alike. I grew up on a family farm in North Carolina. While most of us no longer live on a farm, we do have special feelings toward rural life and farming. But farming has changed. Farmers are players on the world stage, connected to markets in faraway lands, dependent on political changes and international agreements.