On the sidelines of the Group of 20 trade ministers meeting in Milwaukee, in the United States, Brazil's foreign minister Mauro Vieira and trade minister Márcio Elias Rosa met on Wednesday (30) with the US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer. In a joint statement, Brazil's Foreign Ministry, known as the Itamaraty, and the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade said the government of President Donald Trump should send "in the coming weeks" a document with a proposal to negotiate the heavy tariffs on Brazilian goods, covering both tariff and non-tariff issues. The meeting lasted about 40 minutes, according to Folha de S.Paulo.
In July, the United States announced two levies on Brazilian products that together reach 37.5 percent. The larger one, of 25 percent, followed the conclusion of an investigation by the Office of the US Trade Representative, opened in July 2025 under Section 301 of US trade law, which examined digital commerce, tariffs, intellectual property, access for American ethanol to the Brazilian market and deforestation. The White House argues that Brazil maintains unfair practices in areas such as Pix, the country's instant payment system, and intellectual property. A further 12.5 percent was applied to dozens of countries Washington accuses of failing to block goods made with forced labor. The United States is Brazil's second largest trading partner, behind only China.
What it means for Brazil
The immediate result is institutional. The two sides agreed to create a working group to discuss a possible trade agreement, but the meeting produced no concrete advance, an outcome the Brazilian government already expected, according to Folha. Officials at the Itamaraty told the newspaper the new group will differ from a previous one, created in the context of the Section 301 investigation: the goal now is a negotiating table aimed at an eventual bilateral deal. In Brasília, the expectation is that talks will only gain speed after Brazil's October elections. The Milwaukee meeting follows instructions from Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Trump, who agreed to order their teams back to negotiations over the tariffs.
The WTO track
The bilateral dialogue runs alongside a formal dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Brazil opened a request for consultations arguing that, by taxing the country, the United States treats it differently from its other trade partners; Brazilian officials also see the measures as politically motivated, saying Washington disregarded the technical arguments presented. Last week, representatives of the two governments met in Geneva, at the WTO headquarters, which opened a 60-day window for a consensus; without an agreement, either side can request a panel, sending the dispute to judgment at the organization. China formally asked to take part in the process, and the United States opposed opening room for the Chinese. According to Brazilian diplomats, the Americans have given no sign of reversing the tariffs.
The Brazilian government said its ministers reaffirmed the willingness to move forward through dialogue while defending national interests.
"During the meeting, the Brazilian ministers reaffirmed Brazil's willingness to advance, through dialogue and negotiation, in building solutions to the issues that affect bilateral trade, always with the defense of Brazilian interests and the expansion of opportunities for companies and productive sectors of both countries as a reference," the government said.
The pragmatic tone matches Lula's reading of his relationship with Trump. In a recent interview, the Brazilian president said he has a "good relationship" with Trump and treats him "with respect" because he was elected by the American people. "He doesn't need to like me or not, he just has to have a civilized relationship, one that respects Brazil's sovereignty," Lula said.