Entrepreneurship holder, Paulo Pereira, cites credit, Contrata+ Brasil and financial support as a response to possible surcharge
The Minister of Entrepreneurship, Paulo Pereira, told the Poder360, this Tuesday (June 2, 2026), that an additional 25% tariff on Brazilian products exported to the United States could harm micro and small businesses, generate economic instability and affect the financial system. According to him, the government is preparing measures to reduce possible impacts.
The new threat emerged after the commercial opened by the United States against Brazil in July 2025. The government of (PT) considers the offensive to be politically motivated. The assessment is that the investigation was driven by the United States and mixes commercial disputes with issues of national sovereignty.
In an interview with Poder360, Pereira stated that the possibility of new trade barriers is worrying because it affects companies with export potential and creates uncertainty for investments and businesses.
He also said that the classification of Brazilian criminal factions and the discussion about new tariffs could cause restrictions in the international financial system, with consequences for entrepreneurs.
“These are groups that do a lot of harm to the life of society, but if you understand these groups as ‘terrorist’ groups and now a new possibility of increasing tariffs. What does this generate? First instability. Then you can gradually begin to have restrictions from the international financial system against Brazilian banks for the world of entrepreneurs“, he declared.
Pix is one of the main concerns. According to the minister, the system expanded opportunities for small businesses by reducing transaction costs and facilitating payments. “Pix allowed the emancipation of several entrepreneurs”these.
In his assessment, the measures discussed by the United States have no economic basis. The minister attributed the escalation of tensions to the actions of Brazilian political agents and said that the dispute could cause damage to the national economy.
“It is an unmeasured aggression, it has no economic basis. It is part of the irresponsibility of Brazilian political actors who want to harm the country at any cost because they are only thinking about the election. This can affect the entrepreneur’s life”these.
Tariff in 2025
In July 2025, the Donald Trump administration announced tariffs of up to 50% on Brazilian products. At the time, the most affected sectors included smaller exporting companies linked to the processing industry, food, wood, footwear and industrial components.
To reduce the impacts, the Brazilian government launched credit lines for exporters, expanded financing mechanisms for foreign trade and adopted support measures for affected companies.
Asked about possible responses to a new round of tariffs, the minister stated that the Lula administration could resort to similar instruments.
“The government built specific credit lines for exporters who were affected. It could happen again in the case of micro and small entrepreneurs”he declared.
The minister also mentioned actions to combat debt and initiatives to strengthen the internal market. As an example, he cited the a program that connects entrepreneurs to opportunities to provide services for public bodies.
According to him, the objective is to protect companies and jobs if tariffs advance, at the same time that the government maintains negotiations with the United States.
Planalto’s official position is to try to prevent the investigation’s recommendations from becoming effective tariffs. The government states that it will continue negotiating with Washington until the talks’ deadline, on July 15, but maintains that topics such as Pix .
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