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US Tech Firms Gain Ground in Brazil Amid High-Stakes Trade Fight

By  |  August 12, 2025

A fresh wave of U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods is straining relations between the two countries — and unexpectedly giving American technology giants a stronger foothold in Brazil’s ongoing regulatory debates, according to the NY Times.

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    Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said Monday that his planned online meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was called off. The discussion, originally slated for Wednesday, was intended to address President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50 percent duties on a range of Brazilian exports. While the trade move has not secured the release of Trump’s political ally and former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro from house arrest, it appears to be shifting the political climate in favor of U.S. tech companies.

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    Per the NY Times, major platforms such as Meta, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple have recently been invited into high-level meetings with Brazilian officials and Supreme Court justices. Those talks come as Brasília is drafting new rules covering areas like digital speech oversight and artificial intelligence.

    Brazil’s chief negotiator, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, has signaled openness to addressing concerns raised by Big Tech as part of efforts to resolve the tariff standoff. Brazil’s attempts to curb misinformation online have at times clashed with the interests of these companies, which maintain that the country’s policies could limit free expression, the NY Times reported.

    Source: NY Times