BRAZILIAN FM CRITICIZES US TARIFFS – 25% tariffs on a variety of goods, were unilateral and lacked justification
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on Thursday sharply criticized tariffs imposed by the United States on Brazilian products and condemned recent remarks by the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “unacceptable.”
Speaking in Brasilia, Vieira said the U.S. trade actions, including the use of Section 301 investigations to justify 25% tariffs on a variety of goods, were unilateral and lacked justification. The tariffs, which have been in place since April 2025, have been a source of tension between the two countries.
Section 301 refers to a provision of the United States Trade Act of 1974 that authorizes the U.S. government to take action, including imposing tariffs or other trade restrictions, against foreign countries that violate trade agreements or engage in practices that are deemed unfair or harmful to U.S. businesses.
The provision allows the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate and respond to foreign trade policies that may restrict U.S. exports or give other countries an unfair competitive advantage. Vieira also criticized Rubio’s recent statements accusing the Brazilian government of negotiating in bad faith.
