Trump’s decision to relieve rates exposes effect on Lula’s silent diplomatic pressure, with the support of businessmen and a Bolsanist message
The firm stance of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the face of the rates imposed by the US government began to result. On Wednesday (31), US President Donald Trump released a list of 694 exempt products from the 50% additional rate that had announced days earlier about imports from Brazil. The decision, according to Bloomberg agency, was partly motivated by the Brazilian diplomatic and commercial reaction.
The measure surprised the Brazilian government, which in recent days has maintained limited contact with the White House. Instead, he bet on the influence of business leaders to defend the country’s interests in Washington. Among them, the president of Embraer, one of the largest companies in the Brazilian aeronautical sector, played a role in conversations with US authorities.
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Despite commercial tension, strategic products for the Brazilian economy – such as civilian aircraft, orange juice and pulp – were included in the exemption list. This means that these exports will continue to pay only the basic tariff of 10%, already in force previously. Other items such as minerals, fertilizers, paper, chemicals and aviation -related goods were also spared from the increase.
However, agricultural products such as meat, fruits and coffee-important for states with strong support to former President Jair Bolsonaro-were not included in the exceptions. Experts point out that this may be related to Trump’s electoral base, which seeks to maintain pressure on specific sectors of Brazilian agribusiness.
On Tuesday (29), shortly before the release of the exemption list, the US Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, indicated that zero tariffs could be applied to agricultural products that the United States do not produce, which would be valid for all business partners-not just Brazil.
The new phase of tariffs was scheduled to start this Friday (August 1), but was eventually postponed to the 6th. Bloomberg states that the challenge now for the Brazilian government is to transform this temporary relief into a more stable business relationship with the United States, the country’s second largest commercial partner.
Bolsonaro’s judgment may affect exemptions
One factor that can still influence the future of tariffs is the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro in the Supreme Court (STF). The US agency recalls that the Trump government has been repeatedly positioned itself about the case of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, author of investigations that led to Bolsonaro’s arrest.
The US law, used by the US to punish foreigners accused of human rights violations or corruption, was applied against the STF minister. He was already prevented from entering the United States, and now faces the possibility of having his goods frozen and prohibited from doing business with companies or people in the US.
The sanction may also affect the minister’s access to financial services. Although there is no clear definition of the use of credit cards, experts explain that financial institutions often analyze these situations on a case by case basis. In addition, if Brazilian banks linked to the American financial system maintain accounts or cards on behalf of sanctioned individuals, they can be punished themselves.
On July 18, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had announced the revocation of the visa of Moraes, his family and “allies”, without detailing who these people would be. Also according to Bloomberg, US political maneuver targets not only the minister, but also internal polarization in Brazil.
Lula defends national sovereignty and calls US interference “unacceptable”
In his first official demonstration after a sequence of trade and judicial measures taken by the United States government against Brazil, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva released, on Wednesday night (30), a note reaffirming the country’s sovereignty and classifies as “unacceptable” US interference in Brazilian courts.
“Brazil is a sovereign and democratic country that respects human rights and independence between powers. A country that defends multilateralism and harmonious coexistence between nations, which has guaranteed the strength of our economy and the autonomy of our foreign policy. The interference of the US government in Brazilian courts,” said Lula in a statement issued by the Presidency of the Republic.
The statement is the most direct response of the Brazilian government to the sanction imposed by the Trump government to the Supreme Court (STF) Minister Alexandre de Moraes, as well as the executive order that instituted an additional 50% tariff on Brazilian products – however, it was accompanied by a list of almost 700 exceptions.
In the note, Lula expressed solidarity with the STF minister and stated that Moraes is being the target of sanctions motivated by “Brazilian politicians who betray our homeland and our people in defense of their own interests.”
“One of the foundations of democracy and respect for human rights in Brazil is the independence of the judiciary and any attempt to weaken it constitutes threat to the democratic regime itself. Justice is not negotiated,” said the president.
Lula also took the opportunity to defend the Brazilian legal framework, noting that the country has laws that regulate the operation of companies and digital platforms. “Brazilian society rejects content of hatred, racism, child pornography, blows, fraud, discourses against human rights and democracy,” he said.
The president considered “unjustifiable” the use of political arguments to justify the commercial measures announced by the United States. According to him, Brazil has accumulated, in recent decades, a commercial deficit with the US, which makes the motivation behind the tariffs even more questionable.
“Brazil has accumulated in recent decades a significant commercial deficit in goods and services with the United States. The political motivation of measures against Brazil attentive against national sovereignty and the very historical relationship between the two countries,” he noted.
Despite the tension, the Brazilian government has said it is willing to negotiate commercial aspects of the partnership with the US – but without giving up its legal defense instruments, such as the Commercial Reciprocity Law. In addition, the government has already started work to develop a contingency plan to minimize the economic impacts of tariffs.
“Our economy is increasingly integrated with major international markets and partners. We have already started evaluating the impacts of measures and the elaboration of actions to support and protect Brazilian workers, companies and families,” concluded the official note signed by the president.
The statement reinforces the firm tone adopted by the Brazilian government since the beginning of the crisis, which has raised from articulation with business sectors to the use of diplomacy to contain the impacts of US unilateral measures. With this, Brazil tries to balance the defense of its sovereignty with the need to maintain stable trade relations with one of its main external partners.
With information from Bloomberg and BBC*
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/07/31/bloomberg-soberania-de-lula-segura-tarifas-e-irrita-agro-de-trump/
