Flavio Bolsonaro criticised for turning US tariff hearing into election platform

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, a pre‑candidate for Brazil’s presidency, attended a public hearing of the U.S. Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in Washington that was convened to discuss a possible 25 % retaliatory tariff on Brazilian exports. Instead of focusing on technical arguments, Bolsonaro used the forum to attack President Lula, raise issues such as digital censorship, corruption scandals and the Pix payment system, and to appeal to the White House. He was accompanied by his brother Eduardo Bolsonaro, described by the Brazilian press as a fugitive legislator.

Brazilian media outlets denounced the appearance, calling it “unfit for the confidence of the national productive sector” and saying the senator turned a technical meeting into a campaign rally. An economist from the Fundação Getulio Vargas who attended the two‑day session said Bolsonaro’s speech disrupted a constructive discussion among U.S. officials and Brazilian business representatives and embarrassed Brazil’s trade position. Critics noted that the outcome of the USTR decision now rests in part on U.S. political calculations, potentially influencing Bolsonaro’s own electoral prospects.