Brazil's Flávio Bolsonaro asks Trump to stop tariffs, says they aid rival Lula

Flávio Bolsonaro, a leading contender in Brazil's upcoming presidential election, has appealed to the U.S. government to abandon proposed tariffs on Brazilian goods. He argued that such measures would inadvertently bolster the standing of his rival, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

During a public hearing at the U.S. Trade Representative's office (USTR) in Washington, Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, presented himself as a defender of Brazil's export sector. "Every supplementary tariff is strengthening the very government that it is intended to pressure," Bolsonaro told officials.

The USTR proposed in early June to impose a general 25% tariff on various Brazilian products exported to the United States, following an investigation into alleged unfair trade practices. The Trump administration has until July 15 to make a decision and held two days of hearings with approximately 80 participants.

Brazil's government has criticized Senator Bolsonaro's intervention in Washington, calling it politically motivated. Bolsonaro countered that the tariffs have not yielded the intended results for the U.S. and have been exploited politically by the current Brazilian government. He noted that Brazil's trade with China reached a record $171 billion.

Washington had previously removed tariffs on key agricultural products like beef, coffee, and tomatoes from Brazil due to inflationary concerns. Bolsonaro concluded his appeal by respectfully asking the committee not to impose tariffs on Brazil.