Tuesday, July 7th 2026 - 21:10 UTC
In his remarks, Bolsonaro argued that imposing the tariff now would hand a political victory to the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the leading right-wing presidential hopeful, asked Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday to postpone until after the October elections a 25% tariff that the United States is considering imposing on Brazilian goods. He made the request during a public hearing before the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) in Washington.
The levy is part of an investigation under Section 301 of US trade law, opened over Brazil's alleged unfair practices, including illegal deforestation and the instant-payment system Pix, which Washington regards as unfair competition for credit cards, most of them American. Brasília rejects those accusations. The measure, which would exempt products such as beef, coffee, rare earths and aircraft parts, is due to be decided before July 15.
In his remarks, Bolsonaro argued that imposing the tariff now would hand a political victory to the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In a submission to the USTR, he said Brazil holds general elections in October and that the landscape shaping any negotiated solution would be redefined within about ninety days. On Pix, he said it was not a problem but a solution, and recalled that it was created during the term of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro.
