Brazil seeks WTO consultations over latest US tariffs

Brazil has requested consultations with the United States under the World Trade Organization's (WTO) dispute settlement system over tariffs imposed on several Brazilian products, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

The request marks the first step in the WTO's dispute settlement process and comes after President Donald Trump's administration imposed two rounds of tariffs on Brazil this month.

"Brazil submitted, on July 27, a request for consultations with the United States within the framework of the WTO dispute settlement system," the ministry said in a statement, adding that Brazil considers the US measures "unjustified and incompatible" with international trade rules.

The United States this month imposed tariffs of 25% on several Brazilian products over what it said were unfair trade practices and an additional 12.5% over alleged use of forced labour.

The move comes amid growing tensions between the two countries ahead of Brazil's presidential election in October. Left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking re-election, has criticised the US tariffs, saying they amount to interference in the election.

Brazil previously requested WTO consultations in 2025 after Washington imposed 50% tariffs in response to the coup-related trial that resulted in the imprisonment of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Those tariffs were later largely reversed.

Bolsonaro's son, right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, is challenging Lula in the October election.

Lula has accused Flavio Bolsonaro, a close ally of Trump, of encouraging US tariff pressure to gain an advantage in the election. Flavio Bolsonaro has denied the allegation.

Separately, a diplomatic source told AFP on Saturday that Brazil denied visas to two US officials who had sought to meet Brazilian election authorities ahead of the presidential vote.