Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad signaled on Wednesday that the government may pursue legal action in U.S. courts against the steep tariffs recently imposed by Washington on Brazilian goods. “We will go to court if needed,” Haddad told local outlet UOL, stressing that Brazil will not resort to lobbying but instead defend its position through formal legal avenues.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced 50% tariffs on a range of Brazilian exports, justifying the move by citing what he described as “unfair trade practices” and a “witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently facing trial over alleged coup-plotting.
The decision has sparked discontent in Brasília. The Brazilian government has expressed “indignation,” noting that Brazil consistently runs trade deficits with the U.S., undermining the claim of unfair advantages. Haddad cautioned that Washington’s unpredictable trade measures are feeding global uncertainty. “World leaders today feel insecure about the United States, uncertain about what the future may hold,” he said.
On monetary policy, the minister underscored the enduring role of the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency but warned against what he called its “weaponization.” Such practices, he argued, could weaken the dollar’s dominance in the long term. “Countries cannot be prevented from conducting bilateral trade in local currencies if that lowers transaction costs for them,” Haddad added, noting that alternatives to dollar-based trade are already being explored across several regions.
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