Brazil Files WTO Complaint Against U.S. and Cancels Key Meeting with Scott Bessent
Amid the dispute, Russian President Vladimir Putin phoned Lula da Silva on Monday to reaffirm BRICS cooperation.
Quick overview
- Brazil has requested consultations with the U.S. at the WTO over new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, including a 10% levy on all Brazilian goods.
- Finance Minister Fernando Haddad confirmed the cancellation of a planned meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, indicating a deteriorating relationship.
- The Lula da Silva administration argues that the U.S. tariffs violate international trade agreements and are seeking redress through the WTO.
- Amid the trade dispute, Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed BRICS cooperation with Lula, highlighting diplomatic and economic collaboration.
Following the imposition of new tariffs by the United States, Brazil has requested consultations with the Donald Trump administration at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over a 10% levy on all Brazilian goods and an additional 40% tariff on certain products.
Finance Minister Fernando Haddad confirmed that a planned meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was canceled, with no new date set. Meanwhile, BRICS countries are moving to strengthen their partnership.
The Lula da Silva administration argues that the U.S. measures violate several provisions of the 1994 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU), accusing Washington of seeking redress through unilateral tariffs rather than following DSU rules and procedures.
Haddad told local television on Monday that trade with Brazil is not a priority for Washington, adding that his attempts to reschedule with Bessent were unsuccessful. The cancellation marks the latest setback in a rapidly deteriorating relationship since Trump imposed tariffs of up to 50% on some Brazilian exports in an effort to pressure Brazil’s Supreme Court to drop coup-attempt charges against former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted over the failed 2023 insurrection.
Haddad had led trade talks with the United States and was hopeful that a meeting with Bessent would yield further progress after the Trump administration exempted nearly 700 Brazilian products from the highest tariffs that took effect last week.
Putin Calls Lula to Reinforce BRICS Cooperation
Amid the dispute, Russian President Vladimir Putin phoned Lula da Silva on Monday to reaffirm BRICS cooperation at a time when Russia has yet to appoint diplomats to its embassy in Brasília. The 40-minute call covered a range of diplomatic and economic issues, including bilateral collaboration within the BRICS framework. Putin thanked Lula for the positive outcomes of the BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro this July.
Last Thursday, Lula also spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek a coordinated BRICS response to the new U.S. tariffs.
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