US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, said it is necessary to “fix Brazil” so that the country stops harming the United States. The statement was made during an interview with a TV station amid negotiations for a possible meeting between the US president and President Lula.
Lutnick quoted countries that, according to him, adopt unfavorable business practices to the US, mentioning Brazil, India and Switzerland. Also during the interview, he argued that these countries need to open their markets to prevent the United States from being at a competitive disadvantage.
Brazil, however, matters more than it sells to the United States. Last year, the commercial deficit with Americans exceeded 28 billion dollars, adding products and services. In August, several Brazilian products were taxed by the Trump administration, some of them up to 50%.
The so -called “new round” of Trump’s farefits, which comes into force from October 1st, new 25% to 100% rates will be applied to medicines, heavy trucks, furniture and kitchen and bathroom items. Among the main affected countries are Ireland, Switzerland, Australia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, India, Mexico, Germany, China and Japan.
