Brazil’s Foreign Ministry has directed the government trade body Camex to examine whether a newly enacted reciprocity law can be applied in response to U.S. tariffs, two ministry sources said on Thursday.
The law, passed earlier this year by Congress, gives Brazil a framework to retaliate against unilateral trade actions by imposing countermeasures such as tariffs.
The review comes after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports, prompting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to authorise consideration of the law. Until now, Brazil had confined its response to consultations at the World Trade Organization.
Camex has 30 days to submit its report. If the measure is approved, a government working group will determine which sectors to target. The United States is expected to be formally notified on Friday, the sources said.
The Ministry for Development, Industry, Trade and Services, which oversees Camex, did not immediately comment.
The U.S. tariffs, announced earlier this month, were defended by Washington as a response to unfair trade practices and political concerns over former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing trial on coup-plotting charges. Some products, including orange juice and aircraft, were exempted.
Brazilian officials have voiced frustration over limited avenues for negotiation with their U.S. counterparts.
