Brazil cites discriminatory treatment in US tariffs

Brazil on Monday (Aug. 31) reiterated its dissatisfaction with the tariffs imposed by the United States and stated that Washington’s measures are discriminatory and incompatible with international trade rules.

This position was presented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services Márcio Elias Rosa during a virtual meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

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In a joint statement, the ministries deemed the treatment of Brazil unfair and said that the justifications presented in the US investigations do not reflect actual Brazilian practices.

“Once again, [Ministers Mauro Vieira and Márcio Elias Rosa] pointed out that the justifications presented by the US government in the conclusions of the investigations conducted under Section 301 of the US Trade Act do not reflect actual Brazilian practices, and that the discriminatory treatment imposed on Brazil is unfair,” the two ministries emphasized in a joint statement.

Dialogue continues

Despite their differences, the two countries decided to continue negotiations. Technical meetings will be held in the coming weeks, either virtually or in person, followed by another ministerial meeting to assess progress.

The Brazilian government stated that it will continue to seek “a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement” with the United States, based on dialogue and respect for national sovereignty.

The resumption of talks follows a phone call between Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Donald Trump on August 21. During the call, Lula once again contested the tariffs, and Trump proposed resuming negotiations.

Brazil is subject to an additional 25 percent tariff imposed specifically by the US government and another 12.5 percent surcharge, which Washington justified on grounds related to combating forced labor.

The first measure was based on an investigation by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), which pointed to alleged unfair trade practices by Brazil in areas such as electronic payments (Pix) and access to the ethanol market. The Brazilian government rejects these arguments and considers the measure unjustified.

The dispute is also unfolding amid growing economic competition between the United States and China for influence in Latin America, adding a geopolitical dimension to the negotiations between Brasília and Washington.