VZCZCXRO4147
OO RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #0433/01 0721613
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 131613Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8327
INFO RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 9379
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 3986
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 6339
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 000433
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE TO WHA/BSC FOR BPOPP
STATE TO WHA/EPSC FOR FCORNEILLE
STATE TO EB/ESC FOR JIZZO
STATE TO G FOR PBATES
STATE TO OES/EGC FOR DSNELSON
STATE TO OES/PCI FOR LSPERLING
STATE TO OES/EGC FOR GTHOMPSON
STATE PLEASE PASS TO EPA FOR CHILL-MACON
STATE PLEASE PASS TO NIST MNAVARRO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TRGY SENV KSCA TPHY TBIO US BR
SUBJECT: U.S.-BRAZIL SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON BIOFUELS
Secretary Rice and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim signed a
SIPDIS
Memorandum of Understanding on March 9, 2007, in Sao Paulo, Brazil,
to advance cooperation on biofuels.
Text follows:
"Memorandum of Understanding Between the United States and Brazil to
Advance Cooperation on Biofuels
The Government of the United States of America and the Government of
the Federative Republic of Brazil (henceforth referred to as the
"Participants"),
Recognizing the common interests shared by the Participants toward
the development of affordable, clean, and sustainable energy
sources;
Considering the strategic importance of biofuels to be a
transformative force in the region to diversify energy supplies,
bolster economic growth, advance social agendas, and improve the
environment.
Aware of the benefits of forging a U.S.-Brazil partnership to
leverage our collective public and private sector resources toward
the advancement of biofuels and related technologies;
Taking into account the existing mechanisms and ongoing cooperation
in the fields of energy, agriculture, environment, and science and
technology regarding biofuels;
Bearing in mind that this Memorandum is intended to provide a
general framework and express the cooperative intent of the
Governments;
Noting that issues relating to domestic trade or tariffs should be
raised in other multilateral, regional or bilateral fora.
Hereby express their intention to cooperate on the development and
deployment of biofuels through a three-pronged approach (bilateral,
third countries, and global):
I. Bilateral: The Participants intend to advance the research and
development of next generation biofuels technology leveraging -
wherever possible - work being done in the framework of the
Brazil-U.S. Commercial Dialogue (2006), the Consultative Committee
on Agriculture (2003), the Consultative Group on Energy (2003), the
U.S./Brazil Common Agenda for the Environment (1995), and the Joint
Commission on Cooperation in Science and Technology (1984) - amended
and extended by the Protocol signed on March 21, 1994.
II. Third Countries: The Participants intend to work jointly to
bring the benefits of biofuels to select third countries through
feasibility studies and technical assistance aimed at stimulating
private sector investment in biofuels. The Participants intend to
begin work in Central America and the Caribbean to encourage local
production and consumption of biofuels, with a view to continue
joint work in key regions across the globe.
III. Global: The Participants desire to expand the biofuels
marketplace through cooperation on the establishment of uniform
standards and codes. To achieve this goal, the Participants intend
to cooperate through the International Biofuels Forum (IBF),
leveraging existing work being carried out between the U.S. National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National
Institute of Metrology, Standards and Industrial Quality of Brazil
(INMETRO) and coordinating with existing and complementary
international fora;
The Participants intend to establish a Steering Group to oversee the
work being carried out under this MOU so that proper coordination is
maintained across each of the three areas of cooperation.
The Government of the United States appoints the Under Secretary of
Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Department of
State, as its primary representative for implementation of this MOU;
The Government of Brazil appoints the Under Secretary General for
Political Affairs, Ministry of External Relations as its primary
representative for implementation of this MOU;
BRASILIA 00000433 002 OF 002
Each representative, or their designees, are responsible to provide
information regarding actions taken by the Government that
designated him or her.
This Memorandum is to take effect on the date of signature.
Signed at Sao Paulo, in the English and Portuguese languages, on the
9th day of March, 2007."
CHICOLA