Brazilian and US trade officials are expected to hold their first in-person tariff talks since negotiations began, on the sidelines of the G20 trade-ministers meeting in Milwaukee on September 30 and October 1. Development, Industry and Commerce Minister Márcio Elias Rosa and Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira are expected to meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.¹

Accounts from across Brazil’s political spectrum agree on the basic objective: reopen direct negotiations after a videoconference on August 31 and technical exchanges between the two governments. Rosa said the teams are currently “only exchanging documents and forwarding this next meeting,” underscoring that the encounter remains preparatory rather than a settled negotiation.¹

The Brazil Right account emphasizes Brasília’s objection to the US measures, saying Brazilian ministers have reiterated that the unilateral tariffs are incompatible with multilateral trade rules. It notes that tariffs imposed in July included surcharges of 25% and 12.5%, which may be cumulative depending on the product.¹

The Brazil Left account places greater weight on the practical trade agenda. It says Brazilian officials hope the discussions can expand the list of exempt products and reduce rates applied to national exports, while noting that some goods—including certain agricultural items, petroleum, natural gas, civil aircraft, Embraer components, pulp and medicines—were excluded from some charges.²

That account also sets out the US rationale for the measures: allegations of unfair trade and regulatory practices, including concerns involving market access, the Pix payments system, digital-platform court decisions, deforestation, corruption and intellectual property. Brazilian officials have not forecast an agreement. Rosa said expectations on both sides are for an in-person meeting in Milwaukee, but the timetable offers no indication that the underlying differences will be resolved there.²