Trump’s trade chief to speak with Brazil before new tariff push

Brazil is not alone in its uncertainty; all countries face the same dilemma regarding what exactly the White House will announce on Wednesday. Many fear that this pursuit of reciprocity could turn into a bloodbath for global exports.

Against this backdrop, Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Development, Industry, and Trade continue to prepare for impact. Officials are focused on long-term strategy, including efforts to restore quotas for Brazilian steel exports to the U.S., knowing that the world will not end on April 2.

As usual, Mr. Trump has sent mixed signals. He previously said he would only consider negotiating tariffs “if people are willing to give something of great value” to the United States. Later, he hinted that the upcoming reciprocal tariffs might not be as severe as initially suggested.

“Maybe I’ll give advantages to many countries,” Mr. Trump said. “Maybe we’ll be even kinder than that.” He later reiterated that message, saying people would be “pleasantly surprised” by the “somewhat conservative” tariffs aimed at import substitution.

Economist Peter Navarro, a vocal opponent of free trade and a strong proponent of tariffs, remains one of Mr. Trump’s closest advisers. He supports the tariff increases despite their short-term economic impact, framing them as a historic shift in U.S. policy with fiscal implications.

In an interview with Fox News, Mr. Navarro said the government expects to collect over $100 billion from newly announced 25% tariffs on imported cars and auto parts—with more measures on the way. “What we’re going to see next week,” he said, “is a way to pay for the biggest tax cut in American history.” He added that it’ll mean “thousands and thousands of dollars” for middle-class families and that the U.S. will be better off because it will have a strong base of manufacturers. Mr. Navarro also sees higher wages and more jobs. “Life will be good.”