Sustainability as added value in the Brazil-China relationship

Abstract

China's goal of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and reaching neutrality by 2060 shows the effort to face the tension between environmental pressure and economic growth, which became more evident with the Covid-19 pandemic. Fighting climate change means seeking a new stage of economic and technological development, with sustainability becoming a main issue for the international trade, especially in the relationship between Brazil and China. Brazilian production faces social, environmental and corporate governance challenges to meet the Chinese demands. But Brazil has the natural and technological capacity to become a reference in the sustainable production of bioinputs, including of the agricultural commodities. China, for its part, has growing concern about the sustainability and the resilience of its supply chains. As China is Brazil's main trading partner, orchestrating these interests can be a win-win situation for both countries. However, several political and institutional challenges need to be overcome. This article makes use of a literature review to identify these points of congruence and challenges in order to contribute to a better understanding the context and thus inform decisions and policies on the subject.