A minister from Liam Fox’s Department for International Trade (DIT) lobbied the Brazilian government to smooth the path for BP and Shell to secure oil blocks in the country’s controversial pre-salt region, according to a diplomatic cable that officials accidentally failed to redact.

The document – obtained by Unearthed – details a March trip to Brazil by DIT minister Greg Hands. It reveals that, at a “private breakfast” in Rio de Janeiro, Shell, BP and Premier Oil relayed their concerns “around taxation and environmental licensing” to the minister.

The cable states that Hands was then able to raise those issues “directly” with Brazil’s deputy minister for mines and energy, Paulo Pedrosa.

With Brazil's Energy & Mines Minister Paulo Pedrosa at our UK Energy Showcase, outlining UK capability in offshore, decommissioning & more! pic.twitter.com/UQBUbrQg5u — Greg Hands (@GregHands) March 21, 2017

According to the document, Pedrosa then “confirmed that his ministry is already lobbying its relevant counterparts within the Brazilian government”.

Brazil’s government went on to make a proposal for up to $300bn in tax relief to companies that develop offshore oil and gas in the country.

Shell was awarded three oil blocks to pump oil from the region on October 27th, the same day the Brazilian government awarded rights to BP.

The UK government also welcomed a move by the Brazilian government to reduce “local content requirements” – rules requiring foreign companies to do things like hire domestic workers and use domestic goods to operate in a country – according to the document.

Brazil is seen by the government as an important trading partner for the UK, as the country prepares to leave the EU.

As the cable states “Hands’ visit means Brazil is only the third country after the US and Germany to receive all four DIT ministers since the department’s creation”. Liam Fox visited the country in December last year.