One of the most exporting regions in the country, the Paraiba Valley sold short overseas during the government of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), as shown by official foreign trade data from the Ministry of Economy.
A survey conducted by OVALE shows that the region exported a total of US$27 billion to Bolsonaro’s mandate in the two years and 11 months between January 2019 and November 2021.
In the span of the last two years and 11 months, between 2016 and 2018, the sector accumulated US$30.5 billion in exports.
In the comparison between the two periods, the Bolsonaro government represented an 11.4% decline in total sales sold abroad by companies in the region.
In addition to the coronavirus pandemic affecting international trade, Bolsonaro’s disastrous foreign policy is seen as one of the reasons for the decline in the region’s trade balance.
Bolsonaro, the minister and even the president’s son, disagreed with China, Brazil’s biggest trading partner, and was slow to recognize Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in US elections, the main buyers of products made in the Valley today. The delay was due to Bolsonaro being an ally of Donald Trump, who was defeated by Biden.
Bolsonaro also does not enter into bilateral agreements with the world’s major countries and isolates himself in international meetings, as was seen at the G20 summit. Bolsonaro spoke only to the waiters in a room full of global agents.
In addition to exports, imports of raw materials and equipment for industries in the region declined by 14.8% in the Bolsonaro government to US$16.2 billion against US$19 billion in the previous period, reflecting less industrial activity during the current government. reveals.
As a result, the region has a lower trade balance surplus during the Bolsonaro government, accumulating US$10.8 billion against US$11.4 billion in the previous period, a 5.7% decline.
