Dollar opens higher, with an eye on US tariffs and war in Iran

a Accumulated for the week: -0.60%; Accumulated for the month: -1.64%; Accumulated for the year: -7.48%. ?Ibovespa

Accumulated for the week: -1.04%; Accumulated for the month: +2.32%; Accumulated for the year: +9.24%. Understand what makes the price of the dollar rise or fall Trump Tariff The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) confirmed on Wednesday night (15) the application of an additional 25% tariff on Brazilian products, with an extensive list of exempt items. The measure comes into force on July 22. The decision is the result of a year-long USTR trade investigation, based on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a mechanism that allows the American government to investigate and combat possible trade barriers in other countries. In the process, Donald Trump's government claims that Brazil adopts practices that "encumber or restrict" trade with the USA, citing issues such as the PIX payment system, access to ethanol trade, illegal deforestation and piracy. Even with the accusations, items such as oil, coffee, beef, aircraft and cellulose were excluded from the new charges. The list includes products considered sensitive for the American economy, either due to the potential impact on prices or the lack of sufficient domestic production. According to the USTR, the Trump administration tried to negotiate with Brazil over the last year, but was unsuccessful in overturning practices it considers unfair. UNDERSTAND: What are the US justifications for taxing Brazil? See the list of taxed and exempt products In Brazil, the government predicts a reduced macroeconomic impact with the new rates, reiterating that exports showed resilience even after the tariff in August last year, with a gradual recovery since November. "As the American market accounted for around 11% of Brazilian exports in 2025, equivalent to less than 2% of GDP before the shock, and the redirection of sales to other destinations offset a relevant part of the loss, the direct effect on activity was limited and tends to continue in this way", states an analysis by the Secretariat for Economic Policy (SPE), published in the "MacroFiscal Bulletin". According to the Treasury, the exceptions for several products provided for by the measure tend to keep the aggregate impact modest. Escalating tensions in the Middle East Iran accused the United States on Thursday (16) of carrying out a “barbaric attack” after an oncology hospital in southwestern Iran was forced to evacuate its patients due to attacks nearby. “This barbaric attack, which is reminiscent of Israel's atrocities against healthcare facilities, caused intense suffering and anxiety among hospitalized children,” the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baghaei, published in X, stating that “211 patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment” were evacuated. The day before, the United States Central Command (Centcom) reported that it had concluded a new round of attacks against targets in Iran. In addition to command centers, the offensive also targeted air defense positions, missile and drone capabilities and Iranian coastal surveillance installations. In a statement, Centcom said the attacks aimed to reduce Iran's ability to threaten commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the main shipping routes for global oil transport. American forces also reported that they used precision munitions against targets in different locations, including Bandar Abbas. What is the Strait of Hormuz, essential for world oil The escalation of tensions in the Middle East in recent days has once again raised concerns about the world's oil supply, mainly due to limited traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. This Thursday, Iran said the canal was an inviolable "red line" and warned that if Trump carries out his threat to attack Iranian infrastructure, the country would retaliate against all infrastructure in the Gulf region. Global stock markets In Asia, most shares in the region closed down, driven by the weak performance of semiconductor manufacturer shares. The CSI 300, which brings together the largest companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzen, fell 1.85%, while the Shanghai composite index, the SSEC, fell 2.03%. Among the other exchanges in the region, however, the day was more positive. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.33%, while Japan's Nikkei lost 2.79% and South Korea's Kospi fell 6.37%. *With information from Reuters news agency. freepik dollar