Key facts
- Brazil is seeking a full tariff reduction in trade talks with the US.
- Brazil and the US will establish a working group to discuss potential trade agreements.
- Brazil's Trade Minister Marcio Elias Rosa met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
- The US will submit a proposal in the coming weeks detailing negotiation scope.
- Brazil's requested tariff cuts include Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum.
- Brazil is also seeking removal of a 12.5% duty related to US forced labor allegations.
Brazil is pursuing a comprehensive reduction of US tariffs as part of ongoing trade discussions, according to Trade Minister Marcio Elias Rosa. Rosa met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Milwaukee.
The two countries have agreed to establish a working group to discuss issues related to a potential trade agreement, with both sides aiming to move swiftly toward a mutually acceptable understanding, the Brazilian government stated.
Brazil's requested tariff cuts include all US Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, a 12.5% duty related to US forced labor allegations, and a 25% tariff imposed under a Section 301 unfair trade practices investigation. The US is expected to submit a proposal in the coming weeks that will outline the scope of negotiations, encompassing both tariff and non-tariff issues.
This engagement builds on previous bilateral discussions, including a phone call in August between US President Donald Trump and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Brazil's foreign minister, Mauro Vieira, also participated in the recent meeting. Rosa indicated that Brazil does not plan to implement its reciprocity law on tariffs against the US while talks are ongoing. He also noted that Greer did not raise potential new tariffs on Brazil's purchases of Russian oil products, and that access to Brazil's critical minerals could be part of the trade talks, provided there are value-added investments in processing.