Brazil

• Wednesday, March 19th 2025 - 10:12 UTC

  Brazil condemns Conmebol chief statements

  

  The Brazilian Government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Tuesday condemned South American Football Confederation President Alejandro Dominguez's remark comparing a Libertadores Cup without Brazilian teams to “Tarzan without Cheetah,” and criticized the sporting body for failing to combat racism effectively.

• Wednesday, March 19th 2025 - 10:06 UTC

  Julio María Sanguinetti becomes corresponding member of Brazilian Academy of Letters

  

  Former Uruguayan President Julio Maria Sanguinetti was inaugurated as a corresponding member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters (ABL) last Monday. In his acceptance speech, he emphasized the shared history of Uruguay and Brazil and how territorial disputes evolved into unity and brotherhood.

• Tuesday, March 18th 2025 - 08:12 UTC

  Lula wants social media regulated by law

  

  Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called for legislation to regulate digital platforms and combat the concentration of power in “digital oligarchies.” At the inauguration of the Brazilian Bar Association's (OAB) new leadership, he underlined the need to protect democracy, promote fair competition, and safeguard vulnerable groups from “digital colonialism,” he also pointed out while highlighting the OAB's role in defending democracy.

• Saturday, March 15th 2025 - 20:02 UTC

  UK appoints Lord David Evans Trade Envoy to Brazil, completing the Mercosur round of countries

  

  The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has appointed Lord David Evans of Sealand as the UK Trade Envoy to Brazil. With this latest appointment all Mercosur countries now have Trade Envoys, since Fabian Hamilton MP, figures before Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Likewise with Lord Roger Liddle for the Andean countries including Chile.

• Saturday, March 15th 2025 - 09:50 UTC

  Brazil's STF upholds ban on Rumble

  

  The Supreme Federal Court (STF) of Brazil unanimously upheld the suspension of the Rumble social network, citing its lack of a legal representative in the country. Minister Alexandre de Moraes highlighted Rumble's use for spreading hate speech and attacks on democracy. Separately, the Attorney General's Office (PGR) opposed former President Jair Bolsonaro's appeal to remove ministers Flávio Dino and Cristiano Zanin from his coup plot trial, stating there were no legal grounds for their dismissal. Bolsonaro's trial, involving seven others, is set for March 25.

• Friday, March 14th 2025 - 10:55 UTC

  Brazil lifts import taxes of foodstuffs to lower inflation

  

  Brazil's Chamber of Foreign Trade's (Camex) Executive Management Committee (Gecex) gave its nod Thursday to the temporary removal of import taxes on nine food items to lower prices for local consumers. The tax exemption applies to boneless frozen beef, roasted and unroasted coffee beans, corn (not for sowing), certain uncooked pasta, cookies, extra virgin olive oil, crude sunflower oil, cane sugar, and preserved sardines (limited to 7,500 tons). Taxes ranging between 7.2% and 32% have been lowered to 0% in a move to curb inflation. The measure is effective starting Friday. Authorities insisted it would only be for a limited time.

• Thursday, March 13th 2025 - 18:17 UTC

  Ireland donates to Brazil's Amazon Fund

  

  Ireland has joined as the eighth donor to Brazil's Amazon Fund, contributing € 15 million, it was reported Thursday. The fund, managed by Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), supports conservation, monitoring, and sustainable development in the Amazon and has financed 123 projects since 2009. In 2024 alone, R$ 200 million (US$ 34.4 million at the current exchange rate) was allocated, aiding efforts to reduce deforestation, which dropped over 45% compared to 2022. Environment Minister Marina Silva emphasized that Ireland's support recognizes Brazil's achievements in combating deforestation and climate change, while the fund continues to attract international partners committed to sustainability.

• Thursday, March 13th 2025 - 10:40 UTC

  Trump's 25% tariffs: Lula's gov't favors negotiation over retaliation

  

  The Brazilian government criticized US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports. The protectionist move is foreseen to cause the South American country around US$ 1.5 billion loss in exports, primarily affecting semi-finished products. Despite its potential impact on the steel sector, minimal effects on Brazil's GDP and total exports are projected. The Government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva favors negotiation over retaliation.

• Thursday, March 13th 2025 - 10:35 UTC

  Across-Amazon highway to be built for COP30 sparks controversy

  

  As Brazilian authorities prepare for the upcoming COP30 climate summit in November in Belém, constructing a new four-lane highway - Avenida Liberdade - through the protected Amazon rainforest has sparked controversy. The structure seeks to ease traffic for the expected 50,000 attendees, including world leaders. But it has led to significant deforestation, fragmenting ecosystems and disrupting wildlife movement along its 13 kilometers.

• Wednesday, March 12th 2025 - 10:35 UTC

  Brazil outlines guidelines for COP 30

  

  Brazil published this week a letter signed by Ambassador André Correa do Lago and Ana Toni, president and executive director of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), unveiling the South American country's vision for the upcoming gathering in Belem.