Brazil’s National Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock asked the government on 2 September to retaliate against a European Union meat embargo and to investigate the quality of imported olive oil. The EU confirmed it would suspend Brazilian meat imports starting 3 September, citing compliance failures with EU standards on antimicrobial substances. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef and chicken.
Retaliation through trade mechanisms
The confederation’s president, João Martins, wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting activation of the Mechanism for Rebalancing Concessions, or MRC, to respond to the EU decision. Under the MRC, Brazil could demand restoration of commercial balance through equivalent compensation, including suspension of tariff concessions granted to the European bloc, the confederation said. Brazilian beef and chicken exports to the EU were worth $1.8 billion in the previous year.
Olive oil quality and leverage
The confederation also asked the Ministry of Agriculture to investigate olive oils imported and sold in Brazil, focusing on identity standards, quality and product classification under national law. Eighty-nine percent of the approximately 90,000 tonnes of olive oil imported by Brazil in 2025 came from the EU, with the majority from Portugal followed by Spain and Italy. Those imports were worth $540 million in the previous year. The entry of products that do not correspond to their declared classification can confer undue advantage to importers and compromise the valuation of national production, the confederation said.
Related: Carney seeks seriousness as US tariff talks stall
Source: Brazil's National Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock
