Government expresses "indignation" at the threat of new US tariffs
The federal government expressed, in a statement released this Tuesday (2), "indignation" with the recommendation of the USTR (United States Trade Representative) to impose tariffs of 25% on all imports from Brazil.
Read the full note
"Brazilian government expresses outrage at the preliminary conclusion announced yesterday (1/6) by the USTR regarding the Section 301 investigation into Brazil's alleged unfair trade practices.
This investigation began on July 15, 2025 at the provocation of the Bolsonaro family and is associated with attempted interference in our country's internal affairs, as was done during Senator Flávio Bolsonaro's recent trip to Washington. These attacks have had the help of false patriots who use public positions and functions to conspire against national interests.
It is regrettable that all the dialogue and coordination work that the Brazilian Government has done, including the personal involvement of Presidents Lula and Trump, is sabotaged by purely electoral and family interests.
There was and is no justification for these unilateral measures against our country or against Brazilian heritage sites such as PIX, explicitly mentioned in the preliminary recommendations. According to statistics from the "Bureau of Economic Analysis", the USA accumulated US$424.5 billion in surplus of goods and services with Brazil in the last 15 years (2011-2025). Last year alone, the US trade surplus in goods with Brazil totaled US$14.46 billion. Considering goods and services, the figure rises to US$40.52 billion.
In 2025, 76% of imports originating in the United States entered Brazil without paying import taxes. Eight of the top ten products imported by Brazil from the United States had zero effective tariffs, including oil and oil products, aircraft, natural gas and coal. The average rate actually charged on North American products in Brazil was just 3.1%.
The main effect of the unilateral, politically motivated tariffs applied to our country has been to impose damage to the national economy and the generation of jobs and income, in addition to diminishing the role of the USA as our trading partner. In the first quarter of 2026, the US share of Brazilian exports reached the lowest value in the historical series at 9.4%.
As agreed by Presidents Lula and Trump at the meeting in Washington on May 7th, tariff negotiations are underway between the two countries in search of solutions that result in the closure of the Section 301 investigation, scheduled for July 15th, without imposing measures against Brazil. The Brazilian Government will also continue dialogue with the private sector with this objective.
Brazil reserves the right to resort to the instruments provided for in the Reciprocity Law, unanimously approved by the National Congress, to address situations of injustice against the Brazilian State, without support from the rules of international trade.
The Government reaffirms the expectation that the recommendations will not be converted into effective tariffs, but reiterates that it will adopt any and all measures capable of reducing the damage that may be caused to the economy, jobs and income of Brazilians.
We must be aware of traitors to the country and work in defense of our sovereignty and the interests of the Brazilian people."
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Source: CNN