Declaration was made in an interview with News Nation, this Saturday (27)
(Folhapress) – United States Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, said it is necessary to “fix” Brazil and “a lot of countries” that commercially harm the United States. The statement was made in an interview with News Nation station on Saturday (27).
Lutnick quoted Brazil, Switzerland and India, among the countries “to fix”. “These are countries that need to react correctly to the United States. Open their markets, stop taking actions that harm the United States, which is why we are at a disadvantage with them,” he said.
According to the secretary, the rates applied by Donald Trump will be maintained until these countries open their markets and therefore understand that, “If they want to sell to American consumers, you must ‘play ball’ with the president of the United States.”
“A small country like Switzerland has a commercial deficit of $ 40 billion [R$ 213,7 bilhões] with the US. They say, ‘Well, it’s a small rich country.’ Do you know why they are a small rich country? Because they sell us $ 40 billion more in products, ”said Lutnick.
As has been found since before the start of the tariff, the United States has a surplus in the commercial relationship with Brazil. The difference between what Americans sold and what they bought in Brazil’s goods and services in 2024 totaled US $ 28.6 billion (R $ 152.8 billion). This was the positive balance for the nation commanded by Trump.
Included in August in the 50% US tariff to products from various countries, Brazil was the only nation quoted by the secretary that does not part the new rate of tariffs announced by Donald Trump. From October 1, penalties ranging from 25% to 100% will reach sectors such as medicines, heavy trucks, furniture and household items, affecting Ireland, Switzerland, Australia, South Korea, UK, India, Mexico, Germany, China, Japan, among other countries.
The proposal of the tariff intends to protect the American industry from imported products. It is because of this policy, however, that the dollar has been losing value worldwide and an increase in inflation in the American territory is expected.
Soon last week, during the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Donald Trump quickly found President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and said that “excellent chemistry” occurred among them. The officers of both countries should meet in person in the coming days.
