Trade Winds 2025: Unlocking Opportunities in Latin America

For nearly two decades, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Trade Winds Conference has served as the premier government-led forum, helping U.S. companies expand their global footprints. This April, BCIU will lead a delegation at Trade Winds 2025 in São Paulo, blending access to U.S. commercial diplomats, networking sessions and conference events with a parallel high-level agenda. Following the main event, the delegation will continue to Brasília for two additional days of meetings and engagements.

Organized by the U.S. Commercial Service, the Trade Winds Conference connects business leaders with senior U.S. commercial diplomats, government officials and regional industry experts to facilitate trade and investment opportunities. With a dynamic mix of market intelligence briefings, high-level networking and one-on-one business matchmaking, Trade Winds continues to be a vital platform for fostering economic partnerships worldwide.

Trade Winds 2025 will take place in São Paulo beginning on April 7 with a focus on the Latin America region — one of the fastest-growing and most strategically important markets for U.S. businesses.

“Trade Winds is one of the most impactful initiatives for strengthening U.S. commercial ties abroad,” says Peter Tichansky, President and CEO of BCIU. “Hosting Trade Winds 2025 in Brazil underscores the country’s role as an economic powerhouse in the region. This year’s program presents an unparalleled opportunity for companies to explore new markets, forge meaningful partnerships and help shape the future of trade in Latin America.”

Brazil’s strategic importance

As the largest economy in South America and the top U.S. trade partner in the region, Brazil presents vast opportunity across multiple sectors, including energy, agriculture, manufacturing and life sciences. The U.S. remains one of Brazil’s largest foreign investors, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $75 billion in 2023.[1] This robust economic relationship makes Brazil an essential gateway for U.S. companies looking to grow their reach in Latin America.

Working to deepen this engagement, BCIU will extend its presence at Trade Winds beyond São Paulo, leading a multicity delegation focused on agriculture and life sciences. In Brasília, participants will gain valuable insights into Brazil’s regulatory and business landscapes, fostering connections with government officials, industry stakeholders and policymakers.

“This mission comes at a critical moment, as the intersection of agriculture, life sciences, digital technologies and climate becomes increasingly central to Brazil’s economic and policy agenda,” says Gabriella Rodbell, Program Officer, Western Hemisphere, at BCIU. “By bringing together industry leaders and policymakers, we aim to advance tech innovation, promote investment and explore sustainable solutions at the nexus of agriculture and health.”

The delegation will explore how digital transformation is reshaping both sectors. Discussions will highlight Brazil’s leadership in agribusiness and the role of technologies in strengthening global food security and health systems.

A global agricultural leader

Brazil plays a critical role in global food security. Agriculture accounts for over 20% of the country’s GDP and nearly half of its total exports, making it a cornerstone of Brazil’s economy. With vast arable land, a favorable climate and advanced farming techniques, Brazil is a key supplier of soybeans, corn, coffee, sugar, orange juice, beef and chicken to markets around the world. In fact, Brazil produces enough food to help sustain roughly 11% of the global population — a significant contribution to international food supplies.[2]

“Brazil’s agricultural sector is an engine of global food security,” says Nina Kundra, Senior Vice President at BCIU. “As demand for more resilient food systems grows, Brazil’s leadership presents significant opportunities for investment and collaboration across international supply chains.”

Brazil’s agricultural success will be driven by continuous innovation. The country has made significant investments in research and development, particularly in AgTech and precision farming practices. By adapting tropical agriculture through cutting-edge techniques, Brazil has increased productivity while addressing environmental concerns. These advancements have made Brazil not only a leader in agricultural exports but also a key player in the future of food production.

Expanding the life science sector

In addition to its agricultural strength, Brazil’s growing life science industry is a key focus of the BCIU delegation. With the largest healthcare market in Latin America, Brazil presents significant opportunities for collaboration in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Healthcare expenditures account for 9.89% of the country’s GDP, and the sector continues to expand, driven by both public and private investment.[3]

A defining feature of Brazil’s healthcare system is the Unified Healthcare System (SUS), which provides care for approximately 72% of the population.[4] The SUS supports large-scale immunization programs, chronic disease prevention initiatives and treatment infrastructure, making it one of the most comprehensive public health systems in the world. At the same time, private healthcare options are growing, fueled by rising income levels and the expansion of the labor market. This dual healthcare model creates a dynamic environment for pharmaceutical advancements, medical technology adoption and biotech research.

“Brazil’s healthcare landscape is evolving rapidly, creating new opportunities for life sciences innovation,” says Reid Harrison, Senior Program Officer at BCIU. “With its strong public health system, growing private sector and increasing demand for advanced medical solutions, the country is poised to become an even more significant player in global healthcare and biotechnology.”

BCIU’s delegation to Brazil presents a vital opportunity for U.S. businesses to deepen ties with Brazil, a key player in agriculture, life sciences and global trade. Through high-level engagements in São Paulo and Brasília, BCIU’s delegation will explore new avenues for investment, innovation and policy collaboration. As Brazil continues to shape the future of food security, healthcare, and energy and the environment, this mission will help strengthen long-term partnerships and drive economic growth across the region.

To learn more about BCIU’s Western Hemisphere programming, please contact Gabriella Rodbell: grodbell@bciu.org or +1(646) 881-3490.

[1] State.gov

[2] https://data.who.int/countries/076

[3] https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS?locations=BR

[4] https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy-center/countries/brazil