Brazil has reiterated its opposition to tariffs imposed by the United States on Brazilian products, describing the measures as “unjustified and inconsistent” with international trade rules.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Development, Industry, Trade and Services Minister Marcio Elias Rosa conveyed Brazil’s position during a virtual meeting Monday with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

In a joint statement issued following the meeting, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services said the country had been treated unfairly by Washington. They argued that the justifications presented by the U.S. government in investigations conducted under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 did not accurately reflect Brazil’s trade practices.

The Brazilian government maintained that the tariffs lacked sufficient justification under international trade principles and stressed the importance of addressing the dispute through dialogue.

Despite the differences between the two sides, Brazilian and U.S. officials agreed to continue negotiations aimed at resolving the trade dispute. According to the statement, technical-level meetings will be held in the coming weeks, either virtually or in person, before another ministerial-level meeting is convened to assess progress.

Brazil said it would continue working toward what it described as a “balanced and mutually beneficial” agreement with the United States, while emphasizing the importance of dialogue and respect for national sovereignty.

Monday’s meeting followed a phone conversation between Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and U.S. President Donald Trump on Aug. 21. During that call, Lula once again raised Brazil’s concerns over the tariffs, while Trump proposed restarting negotiations between the two countries.

The dispute escalated in July when the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative imposed a 25 percent surcharge on a range of Brazilian products following nearly a year of review. Washington subsequently imposed an additional 12.5 percent surcharge on further Brazilian goods.

The latest talks indicate that, despite continuing disagreements over the tariffs, both sides remain open to negotiations in an effort to prevent the trade dispute from further affecting economic relations between Brazil and the United States. (ILKHA)