Os Estados Unidos on June 1 concluded a trade investigation against Brasil, accusing the government of adopting practices that “burden or restrict” trade with Americans. Escritório of US Comércio (USTR) proposed the application of 25% tariffs on Brazilian goods as a result of the investigation. The measure, which is not yet in force, is the result of a detailed analysis of several Brazilian policies.
Entre practices questioned include the PIX payment system, illegal deforestation in Amazônia and failures in the application of anti-corruption laws. The legal deadline for the definition and eventual application of corrective sanctions is July 15, 2026, as established by American law. The USTR proposal includes, however, a list of exceptions for Brazilian products considered strategic by the US.
Prazos and next steps in the commercial investigation
The new rate proposed by the USTR does not yet have immediate application. US law requires that the formal investigation be completed and a series of public consultations be held before any trade measures take effect. Este democratic process guarantees the participation of interested parties and in-depth analysis of the implications of the proposals.
The American government has established a strict schedule for the next phases of the investigation, detailing deadlines for public participation and the deadline for implementing possible sanctions. Este calendar aims to ensure transparency and compliance with regulatory standards before any final decision.
- Até June 22, 2026:Prazo to send requests to participate in the public hearing, which must be accompanied by a summary of the testimony.
- Até July 1, 2026:Data-limit for sending written comments on the measures proposed by the USTR.
- July 6, 2026:Realização from the USTR public hearing, where the proposed measures will be openly debated with the participation of various sectors and stakeholders.
- July 15, 2026:Final legal Prazo for the definition and possible application of corrective measures against Brasil, marking the formal conclusion of the entire process.
Mecanismo of Seção 301 and the history of the investigation
The trade investigation conducted by Estados Unidos is based on Seção 301 of Lei of US Comércio, a mechanism established by the US Congresso in July 2025. Esta legislation gives the US government the prerogative to investigate countries whose trade policies or practices are considered harmful to American commerce, businesses or exporters. It is a powerful instrument of commercial pressure.
Caso the USTR concludes that such trade barriers exist, the body has the power to recommend retaliatory measures, such as the imposition of tariffs on products imported from the country under investigation. Durante the initial phase of the investigation, in 2025, Estados Unidos had already collected statements from more than 30 witnesses and received more than 295 comments and replies, demonstrating the comprehensiveness of the analysis before the current opinion was released.
Motivos of the investigation: PIX, deforestation and corruption
The USTR’s final report details the seven main practices of the Brazilian government that, according to the American assessment, “encumber or restrict” trade with the USA. Essas accusations cover diverse areas, from the digital economy to environmental governance and public transparency. The listing reflects Estados Unidos’s multifaceted concern for the business environment at Brasil.
The text states that the Brazilian Banco Central favors PIX, the instant payment system, to the detriment of American providers. The USTR argues that the BC acts simultaneously as a regulator and operator of the system, imposing its use and limiting the fees charged by competitors. The regulation of social networks has also been criticized, with the USTR citing confidential orders from Brazilian courts for American companies to remove content and suspend profiles, in addition to prohibiting the disclosure of these decisions. The American body also pointed to high fines, restrictions on assets and bank accounts and, in at least one case, the complete blocking of a website.
Unfair preferential tariffs, resulting from Brasil’s commercial agreements with México and Índia, were another point raised. Segundo o USTR, Brasil grants lower tariffs to hundreds of products from these markets in sectors in which both are advanced and globally competitive producers. Illegal deforestation was also targeted, with the document stating that although Brasil has a legal framework to combat it, the country has historically failed to apply it effectively, allowing the problem to continue.
Além In addition, access to the ethanol market was questioned. The American body argues that Brasil abruptly interrupted the balanced tariff treatment applied to ethanol in 2017 and, since then, has not offered reciprocity to fuel exports from the USA. The protection of intellectual property also worried the USA, which highlighted failures in the application of criminal and customs laws against counterfeiting products, as well as slowness in analyzing patents and continuous actions to combat piracy. The report criticizes the patent analysis time by Instituto Nacional of Propriedade Industrial (INPI), especially in the biopharmaceutical sector, which can reach 109 months.
The fight against corruption was also investigated. The American representation concluded that Brasil does not take sufficient measures to combat bribery and corruption. The document cites the annulment of Operação Lava Jato processes by the Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) in 2023, the “without transparency” renegotiation of leniency agreements and the country’s fall into Índice from Percepção from Corrupção from Transparência Internacional.
Negociações no advance between Brasil and USA
The conclusion of the trade investigation comes during a period of negotiations between the Brasil and US governments. A working group had been created specifically to discuss commercial issues and try to avoid the application of new tariffs. Este diplomatic effort sought to find consensual solutions to disagreements before imposing punitive measures.
Embora the discussions were supposed to end on June 5th, participants in the conversations stated that there was not enough progress to complete the work. The lack of consensus in preliminary negotiations paved the way for the formalization of retaliation proposals. Esta situation demonstrates the complex challenges faced by both countries in the search for alignment in trade policies and economic practices.