Posted on 03/24/2010 6:53:21 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
A multi-billion-dollar deal to supply Brazil with sophisticated fighter jets was in its high-stakes final phase Wednesday, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva under intense pressure ahead of his decision.
Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors called on Lula in Brasilia to make an ultimate push for Swedish aircraft to win out over French and US rivals in the tender.
Brazilian officials say the contest should be decided by the end of next week.
Lula has already expressed a strong preference for France's Rafale jet in the competition.
But he said after his meeting with the Swedish monarch that "the final reports have not reached me" and he could only make his decision once Brazil's defense council had convened to give its recommendation.
The Brazilian president has already asserted that he would have the final word, and that his choice would be based on political considerations more than the technical merits of each aircraft.
"We want technology to build the aircraft in Brazil, and for Brazil to be an exporter of these jets," he said.
That priority has appeared to sideline the US jet in the running, the F/A-18 Super Hornet made by Boeing. The Brazilian government has emphasized instances in the past when the US Congress has blocked Brazil from acquiring or exporting US technology.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Brazil has a very closed economy.
Very high import duties, except for a few favored nations.
If you want to sell it in Brazil, you have to make it there.
I just got back from Brazil two weeks ago. Their economy is booming. The middle class is growing and it is very upscale.
OK don’t buy the F-18.
Fools.
Interestingly, the very laws that require you have to make it in Brazil to sell it there has benefited Volkswagen, Ford and Fiat—all three have huge production facilities there that literally produce cars for the entire South American market. So much so that much of that production is exported back to Europe.
Why don’t they just have an “American Idol” based phone vote for who gets picked while they are at it. Far better than quietly picking the superior product for their defense needs.
Lula, not well liked by Brazilians, is just fishing for payoff like all Brazil Gov. officials.
why DOES Brazil need fighter aircraft? It’s not like they’re going to war with any of their neighbors. They need choppers more to fight illegal loggers, drug lords, etc.
Except for the Japanese, nobody does trade as one sided as Brazil.
Brazil is a up-coming player in South America and energy markets. If you want to become a player you must show that you have firepower.
All true, Brazil is not a party to globalization at all, period.
Boeing didn’t stand a chinaman’s chance. FCPA leaves all US companies in the ditch, good product or not, money talks and US companies can’t talk.
The froggies don’t have a problem at all with talking, the Swedes I can’t say but suspect they have no problems either.
I must disagree — in Brazil’s case specifically. For the US, CHina, India, Russia, Europe etc. it is different, but Brazil has no belligerent neighbors and the last war it fought was nearly a century ago. It needs a police force more.
I agree. We are negotiating a license agreement to manufacture in Brazil due to the VERY HIGH import tariffs and Taxes. Example-We shipped $165,000.00 worht of product to a shipyard in Brazil-the final cost-$400,000.00.
Right now there is “friction” between the United States and Brazil. They want to be a continental power.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.