This study seeks to analyze Brazil's foreign trade policy, which is of growing importance and complexity, in the particular case of litigation with the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body. Such policy centralization with the Executive Branch is examined with focus on the decision making processes, with grounds on the political and economical context relevant to the selection of disputes to be initiated with the mentioned dispute settlement mechanism. Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Commerce (Camex)'s operations are scrutinized, as well as its interactions with other state bodies, which is followed by an investigation of the dynamics of the disputes' conduction and their repercussion on the WTO's trade agenda. Perceived results are that, despite decisions in respect to the litigation with the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body being centralized with Camex, dispute settlement decisions correspond to the country's trade mix and strategic international negotiation positions, and are closely connected to the Brazilian exports and major trade partners. Shaped by internal and external constraints, therefore, the strategies related to international trade disputes require enhanced transparency and cooperation with the private sector.
Foreign Trade Policy; World Trade Organization (WTO); Dispute Settlement; Governmental Process; Institutions; Camex
