In a conversation hosted by the Inter-American Dialogue’s Brazil Program, Senator Nelsinho Trad, President of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Brazilian Senate, engaged with US congressional staff, business leaders, and members of the Brazil Program network to discuss the trajectory of Brazil–US relations amid mounting geopolitical and domestic pressures.
The discussion took place at a moment of recalibration in the bilateral relationship. Senator Trad reflected on his visit to Washington during a period of heightened trade tensions, when the imposition of 40 percent tariffs on Brazilian products strained diplomatic channels. He emphasized the growing role of parliamentary diplomacy in restoring dialogue and preventing escalation, underscoring Congress’s increasing influence in Brazil’s external relations.
A central theme was the European Union–Mercosur agreement. The senator characterized the accord as a strategic priority for Brazil’s long-term economic positioning, while acknowledging resistance within parts of Europe, including France and Ireland. He noted that if the broader agreement stalls, individual Mercosur members may pursue alternative bilateral arrangements, potentially reshaping the bloc’s cohesion.
Participants also examined the implications of Brazil’s 2026 electoral cycle. With Congress exercising expanded authority, including greater influence over budget execution, legislative elections will significantly shape policy continuity and foreign policy direction. Senator Trad described the presidential race as fluid and unpredictable, particularly given fragmentation among right-leaning candidates.
On bilateral cooperation, areas of convergence included food security, energy transition, intelligence cooperation, and efforts to combat transnational crime. The latter, the senator emphasized, has become a dominant security concern for Brazil, with direct implications for institutional stability and hemispheric coordination.
The overarching conclusion was that Brazil–US relations are entering a phase in which legislative actors will play an increasingly central role. As both countries approach consequential elections in 2026, sustained parliamentary engagement and structured dialogue will be critical to maintaining strategic alignment while navigating political uncertainty.
This event was by invitation only.
