The initiative, dubbed “Sovereign Brazil 3” and backed by 18.5 billion reais (approximately 3.3 billion dollars), includes new financing lines aimed at safeguarding productive activity, employment, and exports in sectors harmed by the US tariffs, which took effect this Wednesday.

  The funds may be used for working capital, the acquisition of machinery and equipment, productive investments, technological innovation, the adaptation of products and processes to international standards, and the opening of new foreign markets.

  During a launch ceremony at the Planalto Palace, Lula stated that Brazil would continue to pursue dialogue with Washington, although he rejected what he described as baseless arguments used to justify the trade restrictions.

  “No one is going to defeat Brazil by lying,” the president declared, insisting that his government had presented proposals and kept negotiation channels open with US authorities.

  The leader maintained that a willingness to engage in dialogue does not imply accepting unilateral decisions that harm workers and the national productive sector:

  “We will win because we are persistent, we are in the right, and we don’t engage in bluster,” Lula declared, noting that Brazil actually buys more from the United States than it sells to it.

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