Overview

• Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira called U.S. and other international demands to release Bolsonaro an interference in internal affairs, noting Lula has no authority over Supreme Court rulings.
• Vieira argued the tariff increase lacks a commercial basis and is politically driven, pointing to U.S.-favorable trade data and lower Brazilian duties on U.S. goods.
• Brasília signaled it could apply a newly approved Commercial Reciprocity Law if additional U.S. sanctions arrive, while saying talks—halted after a letter from President Trump—could resume.
• In a New York Times op-ed, Lula urged renewed dialogue, labeled the U.S. tariffs erroneous and illogical, and alleged a U.S. official acknowledged political motives behind the measures.
• U.S. officials have hinted at further steps, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling the verdict unjust and saying Washington would respond, as Brazil cut its 2025 growth forecast to 2.3% citing tariff risks.