STORY-TRÅD·politik
US starts hearing on 25% tariffs on Brazilian products
The office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) is holding the first public hearing regarding the US proposal to impose a 25 percent tariff on products exported by Brazil. The session is being held in Washington on Monday (Jul. 6). At least 40 Brazilian and US organizations and companies have registered to participate in the session, which should continue through Tuesday (7). Notícias relacionadas:Brazilian exports to US rise for first time since Trump tariff hike.Among the Brazilian organizations accredited to present their arguments during the hearing are the National Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (CNA), the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé), the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), and plane maker Embraer. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro is also among those registered to participate tomorrow. Launched on July 15, 2025, the US review of Brazilian actions, policies, and practices focuses on six areas – e-commerce and electronic payment services, preferential tariffs, the fight against corruption, intellectual property protection, access to the ethanol market, and illegal deforestation. Each participant will have up to five minutes to present the arguments already submitted, either in favor of or against the tariffs. At the end of this time, representatives from the US office may ask any additional questions they deem necessary. The USTR investigation was initiated under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974, which allows the US government to investigate trade practices of other countries that it considers unfair or harmful to US interests. Notified in early June, the Brazilian government contested the arguments of those who support the imposition of high tariffs on Brazilian exports and the USTR’s preliminary conclusions. In a document sent to the office, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry argued that Brazilian trade practices do not harm the US or US companies. In the diplomatic note, the Brazilian government asks the US to refrain from imposing unilateral measures as the investigation is ongoing. “The USTR fails to establish the required legal link between a specific act, policy, or practice by Brazil and an identifiable burden or restriction on US trade,” the Brazilian government argues, pointing out that the trade office’s preliminary conclusions leap “from disagreement with Brazil’s sovereign choices to conclusions that such choices are ‘unreasonable,’” and “from generalized claims of trade disadvantage to the conclusion that US trade is being burdened or restricted.” “This is insufficient to justify action under Section 301,” adds the Brazilian government, arguing that US law does not authorize the USTR to impose trade measures “merely because it disagrees with the policy choices of another sovereign country.”