The United States has accepted Brazil's request for consultations with the World Trade Organization (WTO) made in early August, but emphasized that the tariff measures are related to national security concerns. In a document submitted to the WTO on August 18, the U.S. pointed out that some of the measures mentioned by Brazil regarding high tariffs on U.S. products involve national security, and therefore, are not suitable for review or resolution through the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.

Quoting President Trump, the document stated that these measures are in response to a national emergency caused by the long-standing and significant trade deficits between the U.S. and its trading partners, which could pose a threat to U.S. national security and economy. Despite the fact that trade between Brazil and the U.S. has not resulted in a trade surplus and has long been favorable to the U.S.

The Trump administration also indicated that recent policies and actions by the Brazilian government pose threats to U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economy. Brazil has raised investigation requests in various areas, including digital trade, electronic payment services, unfair preferential tariffs, anti-corruption measures, intellectual property protection, ethanol market access, as well as activities, policies, and practices related to forest destruction and illegal logging.

In the document submitted on August 18, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs objected to the alleged unfair practices, emphasizing that the WTO is the only appropriate institution to resolve trade disputes. The U.S. Department of State stated that the implemented tariff measures are related to national security and therefore are not suitable for review or resolution through the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.

The Trump administration believes that Brazil's investigation requests do not involve measures that affect the operation of any WTO agreements, and therefore do not meet the conditions for initiating a request for consultations.