Brazil’s Ambassador to India, Kenneth Felix Haczynski, said on Monday that his country views the recent US tariffs not only as an obstacle but also as a chance to deepen trade with reliable allies. “We suffer the imposition of unexpected high tariffs. We (are) seeing the tariffs imposed on our country as a challenge, but also an opportunity to look for trusted partners and to do more business,” the envoy told ANI.
He stressed that while the tariffs were a setback, they also created room for Brazil to explore stronger trade relations with nations like India.
Willing to Negotiate Within Sovereignty Limits
When asked how Brazil plans to respond to the tariffs, Haczynski said the country remains open to negotiating trade deals but will do so “within the limits of its sovereignty.” Both Brazil and India face 50% tariffs from the Trump administration.
Stronger India–Brazil Ties in Focus
The ambassador called the recent phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva “very, very fruitful.” According to him, the conversation reinforced the idea that India and Brazil are “trusted partners” with a long history of cooperation.
Modi received the call on August 7, 2025, and recalled his visit to Brazil last month. During that visit, both leaders agreed on a framework to boost cooperation in trade, technology, energy, defence, agriculture, health, and people-to-people connections. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues and agreed to stay in touch.
US Tariffs and India’s Negotiation Challenges
Over recent months, India and the US have been working toward an interim trade deal. However, talks stalled due to US demands for greater access to India’s agricultural and dairy sectors — critical industries that support millions of livelihoods in the country.
Despite these talks, President Trump imposed a total 50% tariff on Indian goods. Negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) began in March 2025, with hopes of completing the first phase by October–November.
Trump’s Push for Reciprocal Tariffs
On April 2, 2025, Trump signed an executive order introducing reciprocal tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% on trade partners. Initially, the tariffs were paused for 90 days, during which a baseline 10% tariff applied. The deadline was first set for July 9, then extended to August 1. Since starting his second term, Trump has repeatedly said the US will match tariffs imposed by other nations, including India, to “ensure fair trade.”
