US opens trade investigation against Brazil, which could face new tariffs

The United States Trade Representative (USTR), Jamieson Greer, stated that the American government intends to move quickly in new commercial investigations opened against partners, in a process that can take just a few months and result in measures to respond to practices considered unfair.

In an interview with CNBC, Greer said that the investigation seeks to assess whether other countries adopt practices that harm American trade. “If we find that countries have been involved in unfair trade practices, we can quantify the damage to our trade and then try to resolve that issue,” he said.

According to him, the government’s intention is to conduct processes in an agile manner. “We are trying to move very quickly, in a matter of months,” he declared.

The statements come after the United States opened, this morning, a new commercial investigation against Brazilthe European Union and 58 other markets. The investigation, conducted based on Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, seeks to assess whether these countries allow the entry of products made with forced labor, which, in Washington’s assessment, could represent unfair competition for American companies.

Greer also commented on the trade relationship with China, highlighting the importance of preserving supply channels for strategic sectors. “I want to ensure continued stability in our relationship with China,” he said. He added that Washington seeks to ensure access to critical inputs. “We want to ensure we continue to receive the rare earths we need for our industrial base.”

The trade representative also addressed the reimbursement of tariffs following recent court decisions against some of the measures adopted by the Trump administration. According to him, “interest payments are part of the fee refund process”, without going into details.

Regarding the war in Iran, Greer stated that the government’s expectation is that any impact from the conflict will be “short-lived”.

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