Foreign trade and the challenges of building a strategy for neo-industrialization in Brazil

Over the last 15 years, several strategic industries for national development have shown high and continuous trade deficits, highlighting the strong dependence on imports in industries in which the country could have a better competitive position, such as: chemicals (especially fertilizers and medicines), machinery and electrical equipment, telecommunications, transport equipment, plastics and rubber, and optical and precision instruments and apparatus.These are important industries for the energy and ecological transition in the 21st century, in which the country could become a global player, given the availability of raw materials and the potential to increase the importance of the national innovation system.With this in mind, this article reflects on the challenges of promoting the country's development in the 21st century, using data from Brazil's Trade Balance over the last 15 years as a reference and highlighting the importance of building a national development strategy based on stimulating investment in these industries.