Guedes tells CNN that environmental concerns are used to bar entry into the OECD

Economy Minister Paulo Guedes told CNN this Monday (1) that the world expects Brazil to be more involved in environmental issues and that environmental concerns are used to bar Brazil’s entry into the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).

“We are expected to be more involved in the environment. Preservation, Amazon”, he said, when answering the question about the perception he gathered from world leaders about Brazil during the G20 meeting.

Guedes said that there are still some obstacles for his administration to obtain approval for its two main objectives in the external area: access to the OECD and the conclusion of the agreement with the European Union.

“They use everyone’s concern for the environment as an excuse to make the agreement difficult. We will see”.

According to Guedes, who participated in bilateral meetings with ministers of economy from other countries, the assessment of the leaders is that there is a reaction from the Brazilian economy.

“We’ve fallen less, we’ve come back faster and we’re growing more than they expected.” He also stated that there were comments about vaccination in the country. “We also surprised with mass vaccination”, he declared.

About the OECD, he said he expected access to take place next year. “We hope that in 2022. There is no deadline. Of the 247 requirements, we have already met 100 and another 60 are under evaluation. We are among the first on the access list.”

On domestic issues, he said he trusts the National Congress and expects the approval of the PEC dos Precatórios on Wednesday. But he avoided talking about a plan B if the proposal doesn’t go forward.

“We await the approval of the PEC dos Precatórios. We trust Congress. Legislative demands a ceiling from the Executive. We need the feasibility and predictability of budgets,” he said.