Brazil has appealed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to challenge steep tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Brazilian exports to the United States, the country's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
According to the ministry, Brazil filed a "request for consultation" at the trade regulating body, the first step in contesting the tariffs, before the process reaches a possible dispute resolution phase.
The request challenges the tariffs imposed by Trump through a couple of executive orders on April 2 and July 30, 2025, based on U.S. laws such as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act.
Bilateral consultations are the first formal step within the WTO's dispute settlement system, designed for parties to seek a negotiated solution to their dispute before requiring a resolution panel.
The two parties will decide on the date and location of the consultations in the coming weeks.
Brazil will respond to the steep tariff increase imposed by the U.S. with a contingency plan, and meanwhile continue to pursue negotiations, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Tuesday.
During a meeting of the Council for Sustainable Economic and Social Development held in Brasilia, the president depicted the U.S. trade move as "unjust" and highlighted Brazil's progress on the international stage.
Brazil will not impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, nor will the Brazilian government abandon cabinet-level dialogue with the United States, according to Lula.
The government's commitment is to the Brazilian people. It will implement a contingency plan to mitigate this unjust attack, and alleviate its economic and social damage, Lula said.
Brazil continues to pursue negotiations, he added.
While talks with U.S. authorities have been underway since March, Lula told local media Wednesday that there is currently no room for direct dialogue with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Brazil's Finance Minister Fernando Haddad confirmed Wednesday that he and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will have a video call over tariff issues on Aug. 13.
Trump's new tariff rate on Brazil went into effect on Wednesday, which is the highest ever imposed by the U.S. government.
Approximately 35.9 percent of Brazil's exports to the United States will be affected, according to estimates by the Brazilian Ministry of Trade.
The measure includes a long list of exemptions, including orange juice, civil aircraft, petroleum, vehicles and parts, fertilizers and energy products, while imposing heavy taxes on certain products, such as meat and coffee. With the measure going into effect, a wide range of Brazilian products for the U.S. market faces tariffs of up to 50 percent.
Brazil requests WTO consultation to challenge US tariffs
