The United States has launched an official investigation into Brazil digital trade practices, with a projector on Pix, the country’s instant payment system that quickly moved competitors in the private sector.
The investigation, announced Tuesday by the US trade representative Jamieson Greer, will examine whether Brazil’s digital and commercial policies unjustly disintegrate American companies.
Greer said that the survey will examine the “pricing and non -pricing barriers” of Brazil, saying that the country offers preferential treatment to other trade partners while disadvating American exporters.
Another objective is the alleged penalty of American technology companies by Brazil which refuse to censor political discourse. In August 2024, the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil ordered a national suspension of the X social media platform, after Elon Musk refused to appoint a legal representative in the country.
The survey marks the most recent climbing of tensions between the two countries. On July 7, Trump went to social networks to call on the Brazilian authorities to abandon former President Jair Bolsonaro, whom he called a “witch hunt”.
A few days later, Trump threatened the investigation in a letter to the Brazilian president Luiz inácio Lula da Silva, as well as a 50% rate on Brazilian imports from August 1.
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Pix and Brazil financial system
Launched in 2020 by the Central Bank of Brazil, Pix is an instant payment system managed by the government which allows people to send and receive money instantly, 24/7, at a non -very or very low cost. Unlike traditional payment systems, Pix allows users to bypass fully credit card networks, allowing direct transfers via mobile applications, QR codes or account keys.
With more than 150 million users and acceptance in more than 60 million companies, Pix quickly became the backbone of the digital economy in Brazil. In just five years, it has become the method of default payment for everything, from street sellers to public service bills, transforming how money moves in the country.
The American survey will examine whether Brazil has favored its local payment system compared to established American alternatives such as Mastercard, Visa and other Fintech companies based in the United States.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmqka4otfig
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The intersection of interior payments and global finances
Although Pix is only available in the country, it is part of a broader change than Trump and Americans officials are affected.
Crypto-fintuch bridges like Truther allow people around the world to send stoves and install instantly in bank accounts via Pix. This allows individuals and companies to bypass traditional financing rails such as the SWIFT, PayPal system and American transfer services like Western Union.
For Trump, the concern goes beyond the Pix payment system. As a member of the BRICS Economic Bloc – alongside Russia, India, China and South Africa – Brazil is part of a coordinated effort to reduce dependence on the US dollar and Western financial infrastructure.
In 2024, the leaders adopted “BRICS PAY”, a cross-border payment platform to bypass Swift and facilitate local transactions. During a recent BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, the block discussed the creation of a joint reserve currency as an alternative in US dollars, a decision that would have attracted the anger of the American president.
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