Among other provisions, the act authorized reforms to the IMF that had been pending since 2010 and will provide greater voting power to Brazil and other emerging economies. It also provided foreign assistance for Brazil, including $10.5 million to support conservation programs in the Brazilian Amazon (see " Amazon Conservation "). On June 29, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 ( P.L. Now over a year into her second term, Rousseff is struggling to keep her campaign promises to protect social welfare programs and maintain low unemployment while simultaneously implementing austerity measures that many economists maintain are necessary to turn around Brazil's economy. Background

Brazil occupies almost half of the continent of South America and is the fifth most populous country in the world with 204.5 million citizens. Rousseff Administration (2011-Present)

President Dilma Rousseff of the center-left PT was inaugurated to a second four-year term on January 1, 2015. She held off two strong challengers and was narrowly reelected with 51.6% of the vote in a second round runoff. Rousseff's political standing has declined precipitously as economic conditions have continued to deteriorate and a major corruption scandal has implicated numerous officials in the governing coalition. The economy contracted by an estimated 3.8% in 2015, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) now expects it to contract by 3.5% in 2016. Many economists and international investors maintain that Brazil must implement more far-reaching economic adjustments. Rousseff has fewer resources to distribute, however, as a result of her administration's austerity policies. In December 2015, Brazilian Chamber of Deputies President Eduardo Cunha, a member of the nominally allied, but non-ideological Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement ( Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro , PMDB), initiated impeachment proceedings against President Rousseff. U.S.-Brazil Relations

The United States and Brazil have traditionally enjoyed robust political and economic relations. The countries have at least 20 active bilateral dialogues, which serve as vehicles for policy coordination on issues of mutual concern, including trade, energy, security, racial equality, and the environment. According to the Obama Administration, Brazil is a "major global player" and an "indispensable partner" on issues ranging from international development to climate change. Nevertheless, bilateral ties have been strained from time to time as the countries' occasionally divergent national interests and independent foreign policies have led to disagreements. Similarly, Brazilian officials have been disappointed by the U.S. government's unwillingness to support Brazil's efforts to become a permanent member of a reformed U.N. Security Council and the reluctance of the U.S. Congress to approve reforms to the IMF that will provide greater voting power to Brazil and other emerging economies. 114-113 ). Brazil and the United States are currently working together to address an outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil and other Western Hemisphere nations (see " Zika Virus Response "). The actual level of assistance in FY2016 will be much higher as Congress included $10.5 million to support environmental programs in the Brazilian Amazon in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 ( P.L. Brazil benefits from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which provides nonreciprocal, duty-free tariff treatment to certain products imported from designated developing countries. 114-27 ) in June 2015. Brazil is the world's second-largest producer of ethanol (after the United States). Defense

U.S.-Brazil military cooperation has increased significantly in recent years.
The United States traditionally has enjoyed robust economic and political relations with Brazil, which is the fifth most populous country and ninth-largest economy in the world. Brazil is recognized by the Obama Administration as a "major global player" and an "indispensable partner" on issues ranging from international development to climate change. Administration officials have often highlighted Brazil's status as a multicultural democracy, referring to the country as a natural partner that shares values and goals with the United States. Bilateral ties have been strained from time to time as the countries' occasionally divergent national interests and independent foreign policies have led to disagreements. U.S.-Brazilian relations were particularly strained following revelations in 2013 of alleged National Security Agency (NSA) activities inside Brazil. Cooperation has improved over the past year and a half, however, culminating in a June 2015 presidential meeting at the White House. Brazil and the United States are currently working together to address an outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil and other Western Hemisphere nations. Other ongoing areas of engagement include trade, energy, security, racial equality, and the environment.
Domestic Situation
After narrowly winning a second-round runoff election in October 2014, President Dilma Rousseff of the center-left Workers Party was inaugurated to a second four-year term on January 1, 2015. Economic conditions in Brazil have deteriorated significantly in recent years, and Rousseff is now struggling to keep her campaign promises to protect social welfare programs and maintain low unemployment while simultaneously implementing austerity measures that many economists argue are necessary to attract investment and ultimately boost growth. Although international investors have advocated for a more rapid economic adjustment, much of Rousseff's political base is opposed to the policy shift. The economy contracted by an estimated 3.8% in 2015 and is expected to contract by 3.5% this year.
Brazil's deep economic recession has weakened Rousseff's political standing, which was already fragile as a result of a major corruption scandal that has implicated numerous officials in the governing coalition. In December 2015, 11% of Brazilians approved of Rousseff's job performance while 65% disapproved. Some nominally allied legislators have distanced themselves from Rousseff, opposing her administration's austerity measures and other key portions of her policy agenda. Moreover, the president of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies has initiated impeachment proceedings against the president.
Legislative Developments
The 114th Congress has approved two legislative measures that will influence U.S.-Brazil relations. As part of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-27), Congress renewed the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which provides non-reciprocal, duty-free tariff treatment to certain products imported from Brazil and other designated developing countries. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113), Congress authorized reforms to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that had been pending since 2010 and will provide greater voting power to Brazil and other emerging economies. The act also provided foreign assistance for Brazil, including $10.5 million to support conservation programs in the Brazilian Amazon. Two other bills introduced in 2015 are designed to pressure Brazil to amend its constitution to allow the extradition of Brazilian nationals; H.R. 2784 would suspend foreign assistance to Brazil, and H.R. 2785 would suspend the issuance of visas to Brazilian nationals, until it changes its extradition policies.