Brazil

• 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.

• Tuesday, March 11th 2025 - 19:17 UTC

  Airline involved in Brazil's last major crash grounded

  

  Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) suspended Voepass as a precautionary measure until some non-conformities are worked out. The carrier, made up from the merger of Passaredo Transportes Aéreos and Map Linhas Aéreas, will remain grounded until “the company's management systems provided for in regulations is proven,” it was explained. Voepass' current fleet of six aircraft serves 15 locations with commercial flights and two with charter contracts.

• Tuesday, March 11th 2025 - 10:55 UTC

  Canada's new PM's past in Brazil comes to light

  

  Canada's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, may be a novice in politics but not to scandals, given his past at the investment firm Brookfield Asset Management, where he was vice chair and head of transition investing, later becoming chair of the asset management arm. During his tenure, Brookfield's name was linked to deforestation and slave-like labor practices, which seem to clash with Carney’s public stance on sustainability and climate action.

• Tuesday, March 11th 2025 - 09:51 UTC

  Brazil’s trade suffering the impacts of lower prices for commodity exports and rise in imports

  

  Brazil’s trade balance during February experienced a monthly deficit of US$ 323.7 million, the first since January 2022, (US$ 59,1 million). This compares with a trade surplus of US$ 5.13 billion in the same month a year ago. However despite the negative result, Brazil maintained a trade surplus of US$1.9 billion for the first two months of the year, according to Valor Economico, the leading financial media of South America’s leading economy.

• Monday, March 10th 2025 - 15:55 UTC

  Brazil's Anvisa approves weekly insulin to treat diabetes 1 and 2

  

  Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has approved the drug Awiqli, produced by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, to treat adult patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes, Agencia Brasil reported. It is the first weekly insulin shot in the world. There is no date for launching it nationwide.