USA: Flávio asks for tariffs to be postponed just so as not to favor Lula

He also cited the Master case, without mentioning his link with former banker Daniel Vorcaro, stated that a new tariff could bring the country closer to China and defended Pix.

Flávio went to the hearing with his brother, former deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), convicted of coercing authorities in the STF (Supreme Federal Court) and impeached by the Chamber of Deputies.

Flávio's speech comes amid hearings promoted by the USTR (US Office of Commerce) that has been investigating Brazil for alleged unfair practices under Section 301 since July last year.

On June 1st, the office announced the conclusion of the investigation that analyzed different topics related to Brazil, including payment systems, such as Pix, illegal deforestation, big techs and corruption, and suggested a new tariff of 25% against Brazilian products.

At the beginning of his speech, the senator recalled that he was with US President Donald Trump and members of the cabinet, such as Vice J. D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and stated that he had asked the Americans not to tax Brazil.

He declared that last year's tariffs did not bring benefits to the Brazilian economy and ended up strengthening the Lula government. "Imposing tariffs now would create a situation that is difficult to reverse. It would reward those responsible for the actions in question, while punishing those who bear the consequences."

Flávio divided his speech into three points. He stated that Pix is ??not "a problem, but it is a solution" created during the Michel Temer (MDB) administration, which benefits millions of Brazilians and could even favor American companies.

Regarding the alleged censorship cited by the US investigation, he said that the decisions cited by the investigation came from the STF and the Executive.

Both Eduardo and Paulo Figueiredo, Flávio's ally, have asked the American government to resume sanctions through the Magnitsky Law on STF ministers, mainly Alexandre de Moraes. The measure was not mentioned by Flávio

In relation to corruption, he cited the INSS and Banco Master scandals and, as he did in the comments he submitted to the body in writing, he ignored his own link with Vorcaro.

Since the beginning of the year, the senator has been to the United States on four other occasions.

Among them, the trip where he spoke at CPAC, the biggest conservative event in the world, and the trip to Washington at the end of May, when he met with members of the cabinet and President Donald Trump.

On that occasion, Flávio left the American capital in a position of victory: he took a photo next to Trump inside the Oval Office and saw, soon after, the PCC and the CV were designated terrorist organizations - an agenda that he himself had defended in his meeting with members of the Republican government.

Subsequently, however, the USA announced the conclusion of the investigation into Brazil and signaled that the country would be taxed at 25% and the proximity of the news to his trip caused the PT government to attribute the blame to him.

This trip should be Flávio's last to the United States until the end of the year. According to allies, the pre-candidate now needs to focus on the campaign and traveling throughout Brazilian territory.

Unlike his previous trip to Washington, this time he opted for a discreet visit, without interviews.

On his previous trip, he met with Trump, gave two interviews and released details of his meetings with members of the American cabinet.

According to allies, he arrived in the American capital on Sunday and, alongside his brother and former deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, watched the Brazil game in a bar. The team was defeated by Norway. On Monday, he continued publishing videos about the defense he promises to make of Pix and about the attempt to prevent the US from imposing tariffs on Brazil.

He has insisted that, as Itamaraty did not appoint a representative to speak at the session, the government is being negligent. On the other hand, the Lula government says that the hearing is mainly focused on the private sector, despite there being no limitation for politicians to participate.

Although Flávio tries to use his visit to the USA as a political showcase and insists that, unlike the Brazilian government, he came to Washington to defend Pix, there is a fear on the part of allies that his visit will not be positive. This is because there is still a high risk that the tariffs suggested by the USTR will be applied, which would weaken Bolsonaro's son, since the first tariff came in the wake of lobbying by his brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, in the USA.

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