Trump launches probe into Brazil’s ‘unfair’ trade practices

The Trump administration said that Brazil has launched an investigation into “unfair” trade practices.

Brazilian government “Digital Trade and Electronic Payment Services policies; Unfair, Preferential Tariffs; Anti -Corruption Intervention”, US Trade Representative in question.

The investigation aims to determine whether they have “unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or whether it restricts the US trade”.

Last week, US President Donald Trump urged Brazilic officials to end their prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of the country, and accused them of making a “witch hunt”.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that the investigation was launched by Trump’s “attacks on Brazil’s social media companies and other unfair trade practices that damage American companies, workers, farmers and technology innovators”.

“I have determined that Brazil deserves a comprehensive investigation of tariff and non -tariff barriers and potentially sensitive action.” He said.

Greer accused Brazil with a disadvantage of American exports by offering lower tariffs to other trade partners.

Inspectors will investigate Brazil’s attempts to punish the US companies participating in digital trade and services without censoring political speech.

The Office also claimed that the lack of adequate implementation of intellectual property rights, “livelihood sources of America’s innovation and creativity -oriented sectors” damaged workers.

Trump threatened the investigation first to Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva last week.

In the same letter, the US President announced a 50% tariff in Brazil, starting from August 1st. Lula, Brazil will match with any increase in tariffs, he said.

Last year, the trade between the two countries was worth $ 90 billion (£ 67.2 billion).

Washington reported a trading surplus of $ 7.4 billion in 2024 with Brazil.