Brazil's Lula Pushes Kishida to Open Japanese Markets to Brazilian Beef

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday, urging him to support the export of Brazilian beef to Japan. Brazil has long sought access to Japanese markets for its beef and sees this bilateral meeting as an opportunity to advance this goal.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday, urging him to support the export of Brazilian beef to Japan. Brazil has long sought access to Japanese markets for its beef and sees this bilateral meeting as an opportunity to advance this goal.

During a press conference, Lula appealed to Kishida to experience the quality of Brazilian beef firsthand by dining at a steakhouse during his trip. "I don’t know what you had for dinner last night," Lula said to Kishida and the Japanese delegation. "Please, take Prime Minister Fumio to eat steak at the best restaurant in Sao Paulo so that, the following week, he starts importing our beef."

Brazil has stepped up efforts to export beef to international markets under Lula's leadership. Since he took office in early 2023, 50 countries have lifted restrictions on Brazilian beef imports, primarily in Asia.

Brazilian officials emphasize the superior quality and affordability of their beef compared to current imports to Japan. According to Lula, "Our meat is cheaper and of better quality than the meat you buy. I don’t even know the price, but I’m sure ours is cheaper, and of extreme quality."

Brazil exported over 2 million pounds of beef in 2023, nearly matching the previous year's record. It remains the world's leading beef exporter, shipping to more than 90 countries.

Eduardo Paes Saboia, secretary for Asia and the Pacific at Brazil’s foreign affairs ministry, highlighted the improved sanitary conditions in Brazil's cattle industry since 2005. This includes the recognition of areas free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination.

However, concerns persist about the environmental impact of the cattle industry on the Amazon rainforest and the Cerrado savanna region. Japan and Brazil agreed to collaborate on restoration initiatives in degraded areas of the Cerrado.

Beyond beef, Japan and Brazil signed agreements for cooperation in cybersecurity, investment promotion, and environmental protection. Kishida expressed Japan's commitment to supporting Brazil's efforts to restore the Amazon rainforest, citing a recent $3 million contribution to the Brazilian government's fund for this purpose.

Brazil hosts the world's largest Japanese community outside Japan, with over 2.7 million Japanese citizens and their descendants. The first ships from Japan arrived in Brazil in 1908, and immigration peaked between World War I and II.

Prime Minister Kishida's visit includes stops in Paraguay, where he will attend a business summit and meet with the Japanese community, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he will address the University of Sao Paulo and participate in a business meeting.