Key facts
- Senator Flavio Bolsonaro is lobbying the Trump administration to delay proposed tariffs on Brazilian goods.
- The proposed tariffs are due to alleged trade violations, including deforestation and unfair electronic payment practices.
- President Lula da Silva accused Bolsonaro of triggering the measure, which Bolsonaro denies.
- Bolsonaro proposed a 180-day suspension of the tariffs, citing the upcoming October election.
- The U.S. has a July 15 deadline to decide on the tariffs, which would exempt certain products.
Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro is set to lobby the Trump administration in Washington to delay a proposed 25% tariff on Brazilian goods, aiming to prevent the measure from becoming a campaign issue ahead of Brazil's October election. The tariffs were proposed by the Trump administration in June over alleged trade violations, including deforestation and unfair electronic payment practices.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has accused the younger Bolsonaro of helping to trigger these tariffs, a claim the senator denies. Bolsonaro argues that imposing new tariffs would politically benefit the current Brazilian government. In a filing with the U.S. Trade Representative, he proposed a 180-day suspension of the levies, suggesting the political landscape in Brazil will change significantly within 90 days.
According to a recent poll, a majority of Brazilians agree with Lula's accusation that Bolsonaro asked the U.S. to impose tariffs. Despite ongoing negotiations between Brazilian and U.S. officials, Senator Bolsonaro's efforts to avert the tariffs have reportedly had minimal impact, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicating substantial differences remain in resolving the identified issues. The U.S. has until July 15 to make a decision on the Section 301 tariffs, which would exempt certain products like beef, coffee, rare earths, and aircraft parts.