The private sector has hired Brian Ballard’s specializing office, a lawyer close to President Donald Trump, to help him in the negotiations against US tariff-while entrepreneurs prepare to visit the country in early September.
The contract with the lobby firm – a regulated activity in the US – was closed by CNI (National Confederation of Industry), which will lead the entourage. The defense of Brazil on the trip will be touched by former WTO (World Trade Organization) director-general Roberto Azevêdo, and Ballard will be a reinforcement.
Ballard was a relevant actor at Trump’s first presidential election in 2016, helping to raise funds for the campaign and inauguration ceremony. With broad acting in US politics, it is still regarded as a lawyer close to the Republican.
In an interview at CNNBallard commented on Brazil’s position in the tariff, recommended that the government pay attention to the White House requests and even recommended that President Lula call Trump. Also, he said the Republican is “a hard but fair negotiator.”
“I guarantee that he would like a fair deal with Brazil,” he said.
The business mission is scheduled for September 3 and 4. Executives will participate in the hearing of the USA (USA Commercial Representative) Office in Brazil, as well as finding US Chamber of Commerce leaders, and even US government officials.
The mission’s main strategy is to seek new exceptions to 50%rates, expanding the list of products with reduced rates. In addition to commercial defense, the private sector will take proposals of interest to the US, such as partnerships in SAF (sustainable aviation fuel), ethanol, data centers and rare lands.
Who is Brian Ballard
Brian Ballard is a US lobbyist who has held leadership positions in state and national political campaigns. In 2025, one of the “500 most influential people from Washington was named” by Washingtonian and classified as a “reference figure” by the newspaper “Financial Times”.
In 1998, he launched the lobby company Ballard Partners in Tallahassee, Florida, and since then opened offices in Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Washington, DC The lawyer also has international branches in Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.
Ballard was chief of staff of the governor of Florida, when he devised the Preservation 2000, then the largest public land acquisition program for environmentally sensitive areas in the US. In addition, he covered the possessions of the governors of Florida Charlie Christ, Rick Scott and Ron Discantis.
He was also a financial vice president of the Republican National Committee, a member of the US and abroad Advisory Board and chaired Florida’s Financial Committee for Republican presidential candidates John McCain in 2008, Mitt Romney, in 2012, and Donald Trump in 2016.
