Trump Administration Launches Tariff Assault Against Brazil, Challenging Sovereign Measures Against Tech Giants
In the midst of global debates on digital governance, Brazil found itself at the centre of a pressure campaign by the US administration in 2025. This campaign, driven by several factors, aimed to ease regulations affecting big tech companies and undermine Brazil's efforts to assert its digital sovereignty.
- Support for Big Tech: The Trump administration's close alignment with tech giants was a significant factor in the pressure on Brazil. The aim was to ease regulations that had been stringent in Brazil, particularly those concerning digital governance.
- Free Speech Concerns: The US accused Brazil of censoring conservative voices on social media platforms, framing this as a "witch hunt" against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. They alleged that the Brazilian Supreme Court had issued "secret and unlawful censorship orders" against US social media platforms.
- Economic Leverage: The US employed economic measures, such as a 50% tariff increase on Brazilian goods, to pressure Brazil into relaxing its digital regulations. This move, despite an existing US trade surplus, aimed to influence Brazil’s stance on digital governance.
- International Context: Brazil's approach to digital governance is seen as a model for other countries, particularly its focus on combating disinformation and ensuring platform responsibility. The US pressure campaign can be viewed as an attempt to undermine these efforts and maintain a more favorable regulatory environment for US tech companies worldwide.
The implications of this campaign extend beyond Brazil, impacting global digital governance debates.
- Digital Sovereignty: The pressure campaign undermines Brazil's efforts to assert its digital sovereignty and regulate tech platforms according to its laws, which could set a precedent for other countries facing similar challenges.
- Regulatory Divergence: The clash between US interests and Brazil's digital regulations highlights the growing divergence in regulatory approaches worldwide. This could lead to a fragmented internet, where different countries enforce varying levels of content moderation and platform accountability.
- Global Governance: The campaign shows how economic and diplomatic tools can be used to influence foreign regulatory policies. This approach challenges the principles of sovereignty and may lead to a more complex and contested global digital governance landscape.
- Political and Economic Consequences: The tariffs and diplomatic actions have political and economic repercussions for Brazil, potentially disrupting trade relations and domestic political stability. Moreover, the move could isolate Brazil from international allies who support stricter digital regulations.
The struggle to guarantee digital rights has taken on an important role in mobilizing support for the country’s sovereignty and the self-determination of its people. Organisations such as the Rights on the Net Coalition, the Legal Internet Campaign, and the Network for Digital Sovereignty have been vocal in their criticism of the US pressure campaign.
Meanwhile, Brazilian parliamentarians and the far-right have been divided in their response. While some have supported the US offensive, others have defended Brazil's digital regulations and sovereignty. The United States Trade Representative opened a formal investigation on August 1st, putting further pressure on Brazil to weaken enforcement of rules against US tech companies.
President Lula has been firm in his response, stating that "Brazil is a sovereign country with independent institutions that will not accept being taken for granted by anyone." The struggle for digital rights continues, with Brazil encouraged to cooperate with other nations that strengthen digital sovereignty and promote the rights of populations, especially the marginalized.
