The 4th Meeting of the BRICS Trade Ministers took place on July 14, 2013, in Fortaleza, Brazil. This meeting was held in preparation for the Sixth BRICS Summit, which occurred the following year on July 15, 2014, also in Fortaleza.

Participants

Trade Ministers or their representatives from all five BRICS countries attended the meeting:

• Brazil: Fernando Pimentel, Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade
• Russia: Alexey Likhachev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development
• India: Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce and Industry
• China: Gao Hucheng, Minister of Commerce
• South Africa: Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry

Key Agenda Items

1. WTO Negotiations: The ministers discussed the outcomes of the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, in December 2013. They emphasized the importance of implementing the Bali Package, particularly regarding trade facilitation and food security issues.
2. Intra-BRICS Trade: Discussions focused on ways to increase trade and investment flows among BRICS countries, including reducing non-tariff barriers and promoting cooperation in sectors like agriculture, energy, and technology.
3. Global Economic Situation: The ministers exchanged views on the global economic outlook and its impact on BRICS economies.
4. BRICS Economic Strategy: Preliminary discussions were held on developing a comprehensive BRICS Economic Strategy, which would be further elaborated in subsequent meetings.
5. New Development Bank: The meeting laid groundwork for discussions on the establishment of the BRICS New Development Bank, which was formally agreed upon during the 6th BRICS Summit in 2014.

Outcomes and Joint Communiqué

The meeting concluded with the issuance of a Joint Communiqué, which outlined the following key points:

1. Commitment to strengthening the multilateral trading system and resisting protectionism.
2. Support for the implementation of the Bali Package and the continuation of the Doha Development Agenda.
3. Agreement to enhance cooperation in investment, trade in services, and e-commerce.
4. Emphasis on the importance of inclusive growth and sustainable development.
5. Commitment to further BRICS cooperation in international forums such as the G20 and WTO.

Significance and Follow-up

This meeting was significant as it:

• Helped shape the economic agenda for the upcoming 6th BRICS Summit in 2014.
• Contributed to the ongoing efforts to increase economic integration among BRICS countries.
• Played a role in the lead-up to the establishment of the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, both of which were formalized in 2014.

The discussions and agreements reached during this meeting were further developed and implemented in subsequent BRICS summits and ministerial meetings, contributing to the group’s growing economic and political influence on the global stage.