Brazil becomes target of new U.S. investigation

July 16, 2025

Brazil has become the target of a new U.S. investigation into the country’s “unfair” trading practices, announced U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer (Reuters). According to the New York Times, “The actions under investigation include the tariffs Brazil levies on American products, the country’s digital trade policies, the access it provides to its ethanol market and ‘anti-corruption interference,’ among others.”

This latest investigation comes on the heels of a 50% tariff announcement on Brazilian goods if the country does not cease the “witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro (see July 14 LADB). The Trump administration also claimed that Brazil’s policies discriminated against American tech companies.

However, Brazilian officials are working to find an agreement with the United States to avoid tariffs being implemented, says MercoPress. Following a series of meetings with other ministers and business leaders from key industrial and agricultural sectors, Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said, “From January to June this year, exports from Brazil to the United States increased by 4.37% and from the United States to Brazil increased by 11.48%. At a time when exports from the United States to Brazil are at a record high, almost three times more than our exports, we will be united to reverse this decision.”

Trump’s announcement of tariffs against Brazil have given President Lula da Silva a boost in the polls, according to Reuters, with Lula’s approval rating rising to 43% from the 40% recorded in May. Disapproval for his government dropped 4 points during the same period.

Colombia

• In Journal of Democracy, Juan Masullo and Abbey Steele delve into some of the unintended consequences of Colombia’s war on drugs, including the weakening of democracy. “Democracy is among the drug war’s casualties,” they write, citing the June assassination attempt on presidential pre-candidate Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay as the most recent example of high-profile political assassinations in the country.

• President Gustavo Petro announced new changes in his Cabinet on Tuesday, reports La Silla Vacía, though he did not specify what those changes would be. The environment, health, defense, and equality ministers are allegedly the four portfolios under the microscope.

Tariffs

• On Tuesday, U.S. President Trump announced he would be implementing “a little over 10% tariff” on several African and Caribbean countries, reports AP News.

Venezuela

• A new Amnesty International report reveals that the forced disappearances committed by Venezuelan authorities, especially those considered to be dissidents, “amount to crimes against humanity.”

Regional Perceptions

• In the Latin America Risk Report, James Bosworth reviews recent Pew polling numbers regarding 24 countries’ views on China, including Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Despite changing perceptions regarding China, all three Latin American countries still believe it is more important to have economic ties with the US than China,” with public officials believing “it is more important to have the US as an ally than China.”

Cuba

• Cuba’s Labor and Social Security Minister Marta Elena Feito claimed that “there are no beggars” in the country, receiving intense backlash and prompting her resignation, reports France 24.

Argentina

• Real salaries in Argentina have declined 5.5% since January, says El Economista, with economist Federico Pastrana arguing, “the anchor on wages has rising costs.”

Critter Corner

• Several videos show ocelots and opossums, usually predator in prey, hanging out together across different parts of the Amazon, reports the New York Times.