Lula opened 507 markets for agriculture in three years. Flávio’s father’s government, 239 in four.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, 239 markets for agricultural products were opened from 2019 to 2022, under Flávio’s father^[2]. From 2023 to 2025, there were 507^[1]. Per year, almost three times as many: around 169 versus 60.

Each market opened is an agreement in which the purchasing country accepts Brazil’s sanitary guarantees for a product^[6]. It does not guarantee a sale. It opens the door.

The Mercosur–European Union agreement was announced in June 2019, and Jair Bolsonaro celebrated it: “very good for Brazil”^[7]. In 2020, the European Parliament said in a symbolic resolution that it “cannot be ratified as it stands”, citing the Bolsonaro government’s environmental policy^[8].

A new political agreement came in December 2024^[9]. In January 2026, it was signed in Asunción, with Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira representing Brazil^[10]; the trade portion has applied provisionally since May^[9]. Also through Mercosur: zero tariffs in Singapore for 100% of Brazilian exports since August, and a ratified agreement with EFTA^[11].

On 9 July 2025, hours after Trump announced a 50% tariff on Brazil, Flávio wrote: “Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump”, and called for the Magnitsky Act^[12]. In June 2026, he said the tariff “is Lula’s”, caused by “aggressive behavior toward the United States”, and promised to negotiate “as equals”^[3].

On July 1, 2026, he sent the US trade representative 86 pages requesting that the 25% tariff on some Brazilian exports be suspended and replaced with 180 days of bilateral negotiations^[4]. On July 22, with the tariff in force, he said: “Unfortunately, Lula brought this penalty on himself”^[13].

In the same document, Flávio argues that Brazil should “free itself from Mercosur’s constraints”^[4]. His program registered with the TSE does not mention the bloc and identifies the United States, Argentina and Israel as the most important traditional partners^[14].

In 2025, exports to China grew 6%, to US$ 100 billion; to the US, they fell 6.6%, to US$ 37.7 billion^[15]. Flávio says the government “licks China’s boots”, but promises a “pragmatic” relationship^[16]. On October 25, the vote chooses who negotiates for Brazil.