In a public letter addressed to authorities from the governments of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Donald Trump, associations representing Brazilian and American businesspeople defended the expansion of trade between the two countries in several areas, including data centers, automobiles and critical minerals. The letter was sent by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil (AmCham) and the US Chamber of Commerce in the context in which authorities from Brazil and the States negotiate a possible agreement regarding tariffs on Brazilian products sold on the American market. The deadline for the agreement is July 15th. CNI estimates show that, if implemented, the tariff will affect around 4,200 Brazilian products exported to the American market, representing US$ 15 billion. Itamaraty maps more than 40 American companies against tariffs In this scenario, businesspeople defend, for example: ??expanding access in some markets (including energy security and data centers); ??deepen regulatory cooperation in sectors such as automotive and pharmaceutical); ??support a WTO moratorium (electronic transmissions); ??speed up patent examination; ??cooperation in critical minerals. “We encourage both governments to reach concrete understandings in the short term, which contribute to a negotiated solution within the scope of the Section 301 investigations involving Brazil and avoid the proposed application of additional tariffs on certain Brazilian products”, states an excerpt of the letter. “Advancement […] through negotiation, instead of the imposition of tariffs, tends to produce more lasting results and avoid undesirable effects for companies, workers and consumers in both countries”, concluded the entities. The document is addressed to ministers Mauro Vieira (Foreign Affairs) and Márcio Elias Rosa (Development, Industry and Commerce), in addition to Marco Rubio (American Secretary of State) and Jamieson Greer (White House commercial representative). In response to the letter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “We appreciate the suggestions from the private sector and remain committed to negotiation and dialogue with the North American authorities, a dialogue that has lasted a year, in defense of the national interest.” US tariffs may take immediate effect despite negotiation deadline Anadolu via Getty Images Waiting for decision Brazil is trying to convince the UTSR to review the proposal to apply a 25% tariff on part of Brazilian products exported to the American market. Meetings between Brazilian and American teams are expected before July 15, the deadline for the body to decide on tariffs. This week, the body opened the public hearings phase of the investigation, bringing together representatives of Brazilian and American business associations from the coffee, rice, sugar, corn ethanol, pig iron, ornamental rocks, wood, paper, footwear, honey and intellectual property sectors. For the president of the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil (Amcham), Abrão Neto, "the application of new tariffs would be harmful to both economies, with negative impacts on the productive sector and consumers in the United States, in addition to the loss of competitiveness of Brazilian exports to a crucial market”. Neto also mentioned that the United States' share of Brazil's total trade fell to 11.2% in the first five months of 2026, the lowest level ever recorded. Brazilian imports from the United States also fell 11% in the same period. "These trends suggest that additional tariffs could further reduce the U.S. commercial presence and economic influence in one of the world's largest emerging markets, opening space for foreign competitors to expand their market share at the expense of American companies," he added. The general feeling is that reversing the tariffs is impossible, but that the scope of the measure can be reassessed in light of the damage to the American economy. Government mapped American companies against tariffs As g1 showed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mapped 43 American companies and commercial associations that ask that Brazilian products not be taxed based on the open investigation carried out by Donald Trump's government. The requests were submitted on the grounds that there are no domestically produced substitutes for these products. The entities also warned that the application of tariffs would increase costs for American consumers and for US industries that use these items as inputs to manufacture other products. The information is contained in the official response sent by the Brazilian government to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Understand the investigation against Brazil The United States concluded a commercial investigation against Brazil and proposed the application of a 25% tariff on part of Brazilian products exported to the American market. The measure has not yet come into force and depends on public consultations and compliance with steps set out in US legislation. According to the report from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Brazil adopts practices that "encumber or restrict" American trade. ? Among the points mentioned are the functioning of the PIX, court decisions involving social networks, commercial agreements with other countries, failures to combat illegal deforestation, barriers to American ethanol, problems related to the protection of intellectual property and deficiencies in the fight against corruption. Despite the taxation proposal, the US included a broad list of exceptions for products considered strategic. Among the items that may be exempt are coffee, certain meats, fruits, fertilizers, medicines, aircraft and parts, as well as strategic minerals.