The Trump administration imposed 25% tariffs on thousands of Brazilian products on Wednesday, citing what U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer described as unfair trade practices. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the levies were a result of the Brazilian government's failure to negotiate in good faith during months of trade talks.
The move has become a central issue in Brazil’s upcoming October presidential election. Leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accused the family of his opponent, right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, of collaborating with Washington to trigger the tariffs for electoral advantage. Senator Bolsonaro denied these claims, stating that the blame for the trade restrictions lies with the current administration's handling of diplomacy.
A survey published Thursday by pollster Quaest indicated that 42% of respondents said the new tariffs made them more likely to vote for President Lula, while 27% favored Senator Bolsonaro. The polling also found that 63% of respondents believe the tariffs will negatively impact their families. The Bolsonaro family has previously maintained that U.S. trade actions are related to legal proceedings involving former President Jair Bolsonaro.