At the request of the U.S. Congress, the International Trade Commission (ITC) has launched a study on how Brazil’s growing agriculture sector is affecting U.S. agribusiness sales in international markets.   Brazil is now the third largest exporter of agribusiness products worldwide.  Its growing agriculture sector is dominating important export markets and changing export opportunities for U.S. agribusiness.  Because this important emerging economy is still far from realizing its full economic potential, Congress is seeking a strategy that will help U.S. policymakers to keep U.S. agribusiness firms competitive with Brazil in the global marketplace.

The ITC is seeking comments from U.S. agribusiness companies and entities on various aspects of Brazil’s agriculture trade, including cost of production, domestic support, technology advances and other advantages that make Brazilian agriculture competitive in export markets. Because Congress is planning to use the ITC study to help shape policy decisions involving Brazil, any U.S. agribusiness company competing with Brazil should have an interest in participating in the study through written comments, hearing testimony or other contacts with ITC staff.   Companies interested in participating in the hearing must file a request to participate by June 24, 2011.  Written comments are due to the ITC by October 6, 2011.