US Commerce Secretary says Brazil’s Pix gets special treatment as Washington imposes 25% tariff on Brazilian goods

The US has announced a 25% tariff on Brazilian products starting July 22, after a Section 301 investigation by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR). In the same announcement, Commerce Secretary Jamieson Greer framed Brazil’s Pix as part of the trade dispute, saying the instant payments system should compete with US companies “on the same local basis.”

1. The tariff was announced on Wednesday night and takes effect next week, on July 22. The decision follows a Section 301 investigation by the USTR into alleged unfair trade practices.
2. Greer said the US is not asking Brazil to eliminate Pix, but does object to what he described as a situation where American companies are “forced to advertise Pix” or are restricted by it, while Pix receives special treatment. He also said Pix is owned and operated by the government.
3. The investigation covered several issues, including the use of Pix, illegal deforestation, and what the US said was difficulty accessing the Brazilian ethanol market. In other words: this is not just a payments dispute, but Pix is now explicitly being used as a trade-policy example.
4. Some products are exempt from the tariff, including oranges, orange juice, oil and gas, aerospace parts and components, beef, and coffee. Greer said beef was left out for now to preserve supply, noting that the US cattle herd is the smallest in 75 years.

For PSPs and acquirers, the point is less the tariff itself than the signaling: a domestic instant payment rail can be pulled into cross-border trade arguments if authorities think it advantages local players or changes how merchants and consumers are steered at checkout.