Brazil/USA.- Brazil asks the US for dialogue and defends its “non-discriminatory” trade practices

MADRID, 19 (EUROPA PRESS)

The Government of Brazil has asked the United States authorities this Monday to reconsider the opening of an investigation into the trade practices of the Latin American country, a decision that Washington announced in mid-July after imposing tariffs of 50 percent on Brasilia, in what the Brazilian authorities consider to be "inappropriate" allegations.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry has made this request in a report sent this Monday to the Department of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that "proves that the Brazilian policies investigated are transparent, non-discriminatory and fully comply with international best practices and the country's obligations before the World Trade Organization (WTO)."

For this reason, the Brazilian diplomatic portfolio has urged US authorities to opt for dialogue: “Brazil remains open to consultations and reaffirms its commitment to resolving trade concerns through cooperative and legal means.”

However, the Executive of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has reiterated that it does not recognize “the validity or jurisdiction” of an action undertaken by the Donald Trump Administration outside the WTO.

The US Government announced in mid-July the opening of an investigation into Brazil's trade practices to determine whether they unfairly restrict US exports to the South American country in six areas: digital trade, unfair preferential tariffs, application of anti-corruption laws, protection of intellectual property, purchase and sale of ethanol and illegal deforestation.

The USTR alleges, among other things, that “Brazil may undermine the competitiveness of U.S. companies operating in these sectors, for example, by retaliating against them for failing to censor political speech,” referring to the late June ruling by the South American country's Supreme Court, which holds social media platforms responsible for illegal posts made by their users.

On the other hand, the Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs, attached to the State Department, has pointed out the judge of the highest judicial body Alexandre de Moraes – who has imposed limitations on the activity of US social platforms in the Latin American country and is also the rapporteur of the case against former president Jair Bolsonaro for coup d'état –, stating that “he is toxic for all legitimate companies and people seeking access to the United States and its markets.”

In a statement posted on its social network account