Government changes speech and sees Trump's endorsement of measures against Brazil

Behind the scenes at Palácio do Planalto, assistants to President Luiz Inácio Lula da SIlva (PT) changed their tone and now assess that the new proposals for tariffs on Brazilian products and the classification of the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) and CV (Comando Vermelho) factions as terrorist organizations did, in fact, have the approval of President Donald Trump.

The United States announced three measures on Brazil last week:

- The first was announced last Thursday (28), when the United States Department of State classified the Red Command and the PCC as "Specially Designated Global Terrorists". The statement was signed by Secretary Marco Rubio.
- On Monday (1st), the USTR (United States Trade Representative) proposed the imposition of 25% tariffs on all imports from Brazil, except for goods that are classified as "subject to national security tariffs". The body is led by Ambassador Jamieson Greer.
- On Tuesday (2), the USTR proposed a new tariff: a surcharge of 10% to 12.5% on products from Brazil and 59 other economies that had failed to take measures against the trade in goods derived from forced labor.

Before, Planalto's assessment was that there was a wing of the State Department, including Rubio and Greer, that acted against the Brazilian government and decisions unfavorable to Brazil did not always pass through the White House.

The classification of factions was signed by Marco Rubio, considered a "frustrated Latin American" by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) himself. The tariffs were a decision made by Ambassador Jamieson Greer. Despite this, Planalto's assessment is that Donal Trump approved these three measures.

The president's aides are still studying whether to send a letter or phone call from Lula to Trump. Before that, the government continues to focus on negotiations at a technical level. The government is working with a date of July 15th, when the tariffs proposed by the USTR have a deadline to start being applied.

Planalto, however, rules out the possibility of a retreat by the United States in relation to the classification of factions as terrorist groups and the rate of up to 12.5% against forced labor. However, members of the Executive believe that the working group created to discuss the issue can avoid the 25% surcharge.

The Lula administration is still awaiting confirmation of a meeting between the Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil, Márcio Elias Rosa, and the head of the USTR, Jamieson Greer.

This Wednesday, Greer met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, in Paris, in the midst of ministerial meetings of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). According to a report, the chancellor heard from the American that there is a willingness to "continue dialogue" with Brazil regarding the possible application of tariffs by the United States.

I will show Trump that they are wrong, says Lula in meeting | LIVE CNN

Source: CNN