Brazil

The economy seems set to hover around zero growth in both 2014 and 2015

Media groups will resist efforts to increase government controls, which sometimes risk political intervention

The government is prioritising fiscal and monetary tightening despite the impact on weak growth

Weak automotive demand and poor growth prospects will delay recovery in bilateral trade

The new compliance officer will not offset the widening bribery probe and falling oil prices

Abreu's pro-agribusiness stance will increase frictions with colleagues and traditional Workers' Party supporters

Inflation is unlikely to fall further despite slow demand, with the weaker real boosting the cost of imports

The drop in demand affects both industrial employment and the trade balance in both countries