The White House assesses that Brazil has not engaged or made significant proposals to reduce tariffs.

A member of the United States government told Folha that the White House believes it did not perceive any relevant involvement or receive any significant offers from Brazil in the negotiations surrounding the 50% tariffs announced by Donald Trump on products imported from the country.

This perception comes a week before the surcharges are scheduled to take effect on August 1. The US government is preparing a decree to implement the measure.

Despite this American official's statement, Brazilian negotiators have been saying that the formal negotiation process is stalled, awaiting a green light from the White House. They claim to have made offers to the US even before Trump announced the tariff hike from 10% to 50%.

The Brazilian government, however, has not and maintains that it will not make concessions regarding the political portion of the letter in which the American president justifies the tariffs. The American president said he will impose them, in part, due to the "witch hunt" against former President Jair Bolsonaro ( PL ).

For now, Brazilians say the US government is keeping quiet about the offers that have been made.

Minister Fernando Haddad 's (Finance) team attempted to contact his counterpart in the US, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, but received the response that the process is in the White House.

Minister Geraldo Alckmin (Industry and Commerce) spoke with the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, on Saturday (19). The conversation reportedly lasted 50 minutes and Alckmin reinforced the government's willingness to engage in dialogue.

As Folha reported, the message that was allegedly conveyed to the minister is that the decision on the negotiation also lies with Trump.

This Friday (25), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ( PT ) stated that Alckmin tries to negotiate with the US daily, but is unsuccessful. "Every day he calls someone and no one wants to talk to him," he stated.

Members of the Brazilian government also say they sent a negotiation proposal in a letter to American authorities in May, when tariffs were still consolidated at 10%.

The document included requests for exemption or reduction of taxes on certain products, as well as concessions from Brazil.

Last week, the government sent a new letter demanding a response after a first letter sent on May 16 — before Trump's tougher measures were announced.

The document, signed by Alckmin and Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, also expresses indignation and demands a response from the US regarding the surcharge announced by the country.

Trump announced agreements this week with several countries, including Japan and Indonesia.

In the Brazilian case, the negotiation presents a different challenge than the others because in the letter sent to Lula, Trump also alleged that there are "hundreds of orders" from the Brazilian judiciary that censor "freedom of expression." The Supreme Federal Court (STF) is categorical in saying that there will be no retreat in the former president's trial.

And Lula classified the gesture as an attempt at interference and an attack on Brazil's sovereignty.