On April 11, Law No. 15.122/2025 was enacted, authorizing the Brazilian government to take responsive measures against trade barriers and tariffs imposed by other countries on domestic products. The law comes at a time when international trade is increasingly shaped by political disputes, often disguised as concerns over environmental, health, or security issues.

The measures contemplated in the law include the suspension of tariff benefits, advantages in investment, or even intellectual property rights of countries that unilaterally impose restrictions on Brazilian goods and services. Although the implementation of these actions depends on further regulation, the law establishes a legal framework for responding to practices adopted by major decision-making centers, such as Washington, Brussels (European Union), and Beijing, whose decisions often elude effective challenge in multilateral forums.

In the midst of an unstable global landscape, the legislation aims to provide greater predictability and balance to the country’s trade policy. This is not an abrupt shift in direction, but rather an adaptation to new realities. In a world where goods, services, and supply chains are deeply interconnected, protecting Brazil’s position in a rational, strategic, and legally sound manner becomes essential to ensuring economic stability and sovereignty.

The key question, however, remains: how should an export-oriented country, with a strong commitment to international dialogue, position itself in a system marked by growing structural tensions? Reacting may be necessary—but the effectiveness of these responses will depend on the technical quality of the measures, the moderation with which they are implemented, and Brazil’s ability to engage with other actors who still view trade as a bridge, not a wall.

More than merely reacting, Brazil’s challenge is to think about its global integration with a long-term vision. In a world in transition, leadership is asserted with both determination and balance—which values are essential for those who wish to be an active part of rebuilding an international order based on rules, predictability, and mutual trust.

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For more information on the above or other matters, please contact Maristela SA Rossetti (mar@rraa.com.br) or Gilberto Rossetti (gmr@rraa.com.br).

This article is based on publicly available information and given for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal advice foreign subsidiary as a comprehensive analysis of the matters referred to herein.