Brazil Defends Pix as Sovereign Payment System Amid US Trade Scrutiny

Attorney‑General Jorge Messias told an ANAFE event in Brasília that Brazil’s instant‑payment platform Pix is a strategic national infrastructure and will not be placed on the negotiating table with any foreign power. He warned the government would not subordinate such assets to external interests.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has cited Pix in a Section 301 investigation, characterising it as “unfair and discriminatory” and recommending a 25% tariff on certain Brazilian imports. A public hearing on the matter is scheduled for 6 July, with possible corrective measures from 15 July.

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has submitted a legislative proposal to the USTR, asking that Pix be excluded from any non‑Western cross‑border settlement systems, arguing this would ease US concerns.

Separately, a Lupa Observatory study found that one‑third of digital scams in Brazil now use Pix, exploiting social‑engineering tactics rather than technical flaws. A Serasa survey reported that 61% of Brazilians have reduced cash usage thanks to Pix, while individual fraud cases have resulted in losses exceeding R$ 46 million.

These developments highlight Pix’s central role in Brazil’s financial ecosystem and its emerging prominence in international trade debates.