The United States was the first country to recognize Brazil's independence in 1822. The two countries have traditionally enjoyed friendly, active relations encompassing a broad political and economic agenda.

The relationship between Brazil and the United States strengthened with the inauguration of Brazil's internationally oriented, reformist President Fernando Henrique Cardoso in 1995. He and former President Clinton had several meetings, and President Bush met with President Cardoso within 3 months of his inauguration. President Bush invited then President-elect Lula to Washington for a meeting in December 2002, at which the two committed to a presidential summit in 2003. President Lula again visited Washington for a summit on June 20, 2003. Documents covering the results of the summit can be found on on the White House and State Department websites. Deepening U.S.-Brazil engagement and cooperation were reflected in the numerous high-level contacts between the two governments in the first months of Lula's presidency, including visit to Brazil by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, then-Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, and current Treasury Secretary John Snow, as well as to Washington by Brazilian Finance Minister Palocci and Central Bank President Meirelles.

Ongoing topics of discussion and cooperation have included trade and finance; hemispheric economic integration; FTAA; nonproliferation and arms control; human rights; international crime, including financial support to terrorist groups, along the Tri-border area (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay); counter-narcotics; and environmental issues. Bilateral agreements in effect include an Education Partnership Agreement, which enhances and expands cooperative initiatives in such areas as standards-based education reform, use of technology, and professional development of teachers; a Mutual Legal Assistance treaty--ratified in 2001; and agreements on cooperation in energy, national parks, and government reform. In April 2000, the United States and Brazil signed a Technical Safeguards Agreement to permit U.S. firms to participate in the development of the Alcantara spaceport. This agreement is currently blocked in the Brazilian Congress.

U.S. Embassy and Consulate Functions
The U.S. embassy and consulates in Brazil provide a wide range of services to U.S. citizens and business. Political, economic, and science officers deal directly with the Brazilian Government in advancing U.S. interests but also are available to brief U.S. citizens on general conditions in the country. Attaches from the U.S. Commercial Service and Foreign Agriculture Service work closely with hundreds of U.S. companies that maintain offices in Brazil. These officers provide information on Brazilian trade and industry regulations and administer several programs to aid U.S. companies starting or maintaining business ventures in Brazil. The number of trade events and U.S. companies traveling to Brazil to participate in U.S. Commercial Service and Foreign Agriculture Service programs has tripled over the last 3 years.

The consular section of the embassy provides vital services to the estimated 50,000 U.S. citizens residing in Brazil. Among other services, the consular section assists Americans who wish to participate in U.S. elections while abroad and provides U.S. tax information. Besides the U.S. residents living in Brazil, some 150,000 U.S. citizens visit annually. The consular section offers passport and emergency services to U.S. tourists as needed during their stay in Brazil.

The U.S. Embassy in Brasilia is located at SES Avenida das Nacoes, quadra 801, lote 3, Brasilia, DF, CEP: 70.403-900 (tel. 55-61-312-7000), (fax 55-61-225-9136). Internet: http://www.embaixada-americana.org.br/.

There are U.S. consulates general in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and a consulate in Recife. Consular agents are located in Manaus, Belem, Salvador, Fortaleza, and Porto Alegre. Branch offices of the U.S. Foreign Commercial Services are located in Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte.