The public hearing between representatives of the productive sector and the United States government to discuss the 25% tariffs on Brazilian products begins this Monday (6) at 11 am Brasília time.
Between this Monday and Tuesday (7), representatives of the affected Brazilian sectors and members of the American productive sector will have the last opportunity to defend less severe measures before the US government defines them. High-level negotiations between authorities from both countries continue until the final decision is scheduled for the 15th.
The public hearing is promoted by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, USTR, to discuss the trade investigation opened against Brazil. The lawsuit seeks to punish foreign business practices deemed unfair or harmful to U.S. companies. In the end, the procedure could result in the adoption of a 25% tariff on Brazilian products.
The USTR opened the investigation based on Section 301 of the United States Trade Act of 1974, a mechanism used to investigate commercial practices considered harmful to the country’s interests. Among the topics analyzed are digital commerce, electronic payment services, tariffs classified by the US as “unfair and preferential”, anti-corruption measures, protection of intellectual property, access to the ethanol market and illegal deforestation.
The hearing will be held at the United States International Trade Commission in Washington and will be divided into 14 panels. The first seven will take place this Monday, and the other seven will take place on Tuesday, also starting at 11 am, Brasília time.
Representatives of the affected Brazilian sectors, importers, distributors, industries, associations, federations, chambers of commerce, consultancies, specialized offices, economic representation entities and other registered participants will have five minutes to present an executive summary with technical arguments about the impacts of tariffs on the production chains they represent. The process also involves questions asked by the USTR itself, followed by responses from participating entities.
Preparations for the hearing began last month. Interested parties were able to request participation until June 22nd and submit written comments until July 1st. The documents sent will serve as the basis for presentations during the sessions.
Tariff articulated by the Bolsonaro family
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), pre-candidate for President, will participate in one of the audit panels. In a letter sent to the USTR, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) asked that the decision on the 25% tariff applied to Brazilian products be postponed until after the elections. In the document, he stated that the measure would politically benefit the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and accused Planalto of provoking the United States to maintain the tariffs.
The hearing will be held months after former federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro defended the United States’ economic measures against Brazil. In July 2025, he stated that the surcharge announced by President Donald Trump was part of a set of “levers” that could be used to pressure Brazilian authorities to approve amnesty for those convicted of the January 8 acts.
“FREE Congress approves a BROAD, GENERAL AND UNRESTRICTED amnesty. It would be an excellent sign of moderation, of those who are mature and want to sit down and take advantage of the opportunity to dialogue with the greatest economic power in the world”, he wrote on his profile on
During the same period, Eduardo expanded contacts with members of the United States government. In interviews given in Washington, he said that he sought to increase pressure on Brazilian authorities and defended new sanctions against members of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and other authorities. THE BBC Newsalso declared that he was willing to go to “the ultimate consequences” to remove minister Alexandre de Moraes from power.
Eduardo Bolsonaro is investigated by the STF on suspicion of coercion during the process, obstruction of investigation and attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law. Among the facts discovered is his work with United States authorities to encourage sanctions against Brazil. The former deputy denies wrongdoing and classifies the accusations as “fantasy”.
Who will participate in the hearing?
Among the participants is, in addition to Flávio Bolsonaro, the journalist Paulo Figueiredo, an ally of Eduardo Bolsonaro and one of the group’s interlocutors with the US government. According to the application, he intends to argue that the tariff could weaken the strategic interests of the United States by bringing Brazil closer to China.
Among the Brazilian entities registered is the Sociedade Rural Brasileira, represented by Marcelo Schunn Junqueira. During the 2022 election, the entity declared formal support for Jair Bolsonaro’s candidacy.
The Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA) will also have a representative at the hearing: Fernanda Carneiro. In 2022, during the National Agro Meeting, the then president of the CNA, João Martins, gave a speech in the presence of Jair Bolsonaro and defended the continuity of the government.
The Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry Union (Unica) is also on the list of participants. During the Bolsonaro government, the entity published a statement congratulating the then president for his speech at the Climate Leaders Summit promoted by the United States and praised management initiatives related to biofuels and environmental policy.
The hearing will also bring together representatives from Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional, Klabin, Bauducco, Abimaq, the Brazilian Tree Industry, the Brazilian Rice Industry Association, the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council and other Brazilian and American business entities.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
