1. Senate resumes activities and targets tax reform

As the Senate resumes its activities for the second half of the year, Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco stated that the vote on the tax reform is expected to take place soon after the municipal elections, at the end of October.

Pacheco also mentioned that the Senate will begin analyzing the reform in August. The government wants the vote to take place as soon as possible, but party leaders are trying to negotiate the removal of the constitutional urgency, which mandates analysis of the issue within 45 days.

Valor Econômico: Pacheco diz que votação da regulamentação da reforma tributária deve ocorrer após as eleições

2. Industrial production grows 4.1% in June

In June 2024, national industrial production increased by 4.1% compared to the previous month, according to the Monthly Industrial Survey (PIM) released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

These results break two consecutive months of negative rates, during which there was an accumulated loss of 1.8%.

Out of the 25 activities surveyed, 16 advanced in June. Positive highlights came from the sectors of petroleum products and biofuels (4.0%), chemical products (6.5%), food products (2.7%), and extractive industries (2.5%).

IBGE: Produção industrial avança 4,1% em junho

3. Electoral Court signs agreement with Big Techs to combat disinformation

On Thursday (August 8th), the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) announced it had signed a series of agreements with digital platforms to guide efforts to combat electoral disinformation during the municipal elections, set to take place in October this year.

According to the electoral court, the agreements are valid until December 31st, with the possibility of extension. They do not involve financial commitments or resource transfers between the parties.

Authorities are concerned that the election could see a massive spread of disinformation and content manipulated by artificial intelligence systems, which is why they hope tech companies will help in combating these issues.

Valor Econômico: TSE firma entendimento com ‘big techs’ para conter a disseminação de notícias falsas
TSE: Acesse a íntegra dos acordos com plataformas digitais para combater mentiras nas Eleições 2024

4. Brazilian government expels Nicaraguan ambassador in retaliation

On Thursday (August 8th), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Brazilian government has decided to expel Nicaragua’s ambassador in Brasília, Fulvia Patricia Castro Matus.

This move is in response to the expulsion of Brazil’s ambassador to Nicaragua, Breno Souza da Costa, by Daniel Ortega’s regime, a former ally of Lula.

Relations between the two countries had been cold since Lula unsuccessfully attempted to intervene on behalf of a Catholic bishop persecuted by the regime. The incident that triggered the decision to expel Costa was the Brazilian ambassador’s absence from a celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution.

Valor Econômico: Governo Lula expulsa embaixadora da Nicarágua após Ortega fazer o mesmo com diplomata brasileiro
Ministério das Relações Exteriores: Retirada da Embaixadora da Nicarágua em Brasília

5. Brazil announces signing of 19 bilateral agreements with Chile

Following President Lula’s visit to Chile, the Brazilian government announced the signing of 19 bilateral agreements with the Chilean government.

According to official sources, the agreements cover areas such as tourism, science and technology, defense, agriculture, human rights, and investments.

The Brazilian delegation included around 300 representatives from the private sector, who gathered at the Brazil-Chile Business Forum in Santiago to discuss priority issues for bilateral trade.

Agência Brasil: Brasil e Chile assinam 19 atos bilaterais