Right-wing Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro traveled to Washington on Tuesday to ask the American government not to impose new customs duties on Brazilian exports, a decision he said would favor his opponent, Lula.
• Also read: Three months before the election, the Bolsonaro family is torn apart before the presidential election
• Also read: Brazil: Eduardo, a Bolsonaro son, sentenced to four years in prison for lobbying for his father
During a hearing before the services of the Trade Representative (USTR) of the White House, which must determine whether the conditions for the implementation of such a surcharge are met, the son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro wanted to present himself as a defender of his country’s export sector.
“Each additional customs duty will benefit the government that you think you are putting under pressure,” he told a panel of officials.
The USTR has opened an investigation to determine whether there is reason to impose 25% tariffs on Brazilian products entering the United States, based on suspicions of unfair trade practices.
Since Monday, he has launched a series of hearings in order to listen to the arguments of the different parties, before making a decision which could be made by July 15.
US President Donald Trump has made tariffs one of his main economic weapons, imposing a series of surcharges on all products entering the country.
He particularly targeted Brazil, imposing up to 50% on a certain number of products in retaliation for the conviction, which he considered political, of Jair Bolsonaro, found guilty of attempted coup d’état.
But last February the American Supreme Court overturned most of the customs duties imposed, including those targeting Brazil, ruling that the American president had not respected the Constitution.
“The 2025 data shows that these customs duties have not brought the results that the United States expected and have instead been politically exploited by the current government of Brazil,” assured Mr. Bolsonaro.
He was accompanied in Washington by his brother Eduardo, who lives in the United States and was sentenced in Brazil to four years in prison for his lobbying abroad in favor of his father.
“The government that you sought to put under pressure took advantage of these decisions and at the same time trade between Brazil and China reached a record level of 171 billion dollars,” added Flavio Bolsonaro.
“China has absorbed Brazilian exports that have not reached the US market because of these tariffs. »
“Anti-American”
Due to the inflationary impact of the surcharges, Washington canceled those targeting a certain number of agricultural products, including beef, coffee and tomatoes from Brazil.
According to USTR data, the United States exported more than $54 billion worth of goods to Brazil, importing nearly $40 billion at the same time.
The current investigation focuses on various subjects, including the fight against corruption, the protection of intellectual property, and the consequences of illegal deforestation.
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva criticized last week Flavio Bolsonaro’s desire to come and speak before the USTR panel on the last day of public hearings.
“Asking that the surcharges against our country be postponed until after the elections is a new act of these traitors to the Fatherland,” he declared on the social network X.
Flavio Bolsonaro met Donald Trump at the White House last month, a gesture seen as support from the latter for his candidacy.
“The Brazilian government may change from January next year. Everything can change. What we can tell you is that we have many possibilities to have a president who is not anti-American like the one we currently have,” Flavio Bolsonaro insisted this Tuesday.
