Lula government condemns Flávio Bolsonaro's actions in the US, cites link to Master case

Brazil's government under President Lula has strongly repudiated Senator Flávio Bolsonaro's appearance at a U.S. public hearing discussing trade tariffs imposed on Brazil. The government labeled Bolsonaro's actions as "intervention" after the senator, a prominent rival of Lula, accused the Brazilian president of leveraging the tariffs for electoral advantage.

In a formal statement, the Brazilian government expressed its disapproval of Senator Bolsonaro's involvement in the hearing organized by the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR). The statement highlighted Bolsonaro's reference to the "Master case," Brazil's largest corruption scheme, while omitting his own connections to the bank's owner, Daniel Vorcaro. The government noted that Bolsonaro had allegedly sought over R$130 million from Vorcaro for a film about his father.

During the hearing, Flávio Bolsonaro argued that imposing tariffs on Brazilian products would benefit Lula in the upcoming elections and suggested delaying the discussion until after the vote. The government's statement pointed out that among the 34 Brazilians registered to speak, Bolsonaro was the only one who did not oppose the U.S. measures, instead opting to suggest a postponement with clear electoral motives. "Instead of refuting the unfounded allegations by the North American government to tax Brazil, the senator chose to legitimize the results of an unfair investigation against entrepreneurs and workers of our country," the note read.

Bolsonaro defended his participation, citing his role as a Brazilian parliamentarian and a key opposition figure, and criticized the absence of official Brazilian government representatives. He positioned himself as a defender of national interests. However, within the Planalto presidential palace, the assessment was that Brazil should not send official representatives to avoid legitimizing the U.S. investigation, which the Lula administration opposes. The USTR has been investigating Brazil for alleged unfair practices since July of the previous year, concluding its probe on June 1 and suggesting a 25% tariff on Brazilian products.

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O governo brasileiro repudia a intervenção do senador Flávio Bolsonaro em audiência pública realizada, nesta terça-feira (7), pelo Escritório do Representante Comercial dos Estados Unidos (USTR), aberta à participação do setor privado e da sociedade civil para discutir a imposição de tarifas contra o Brasil.