The Palácio do Planalto announced that it will immediately initiate procedures to invoke the Reciprocity Law, approved by the Brazilian National Congress, with the World Trade Organization (WTO), rejecting the justifications presented by the United States.
This Brazilian reaction occurred shortly after the United States Trade Representative's Office (USTR) confirmed the implementation of a new tariff, which will be effective starting July 22, accompanied by a list of exemptions. The deadline for Washington to decide on applying new rates against Brazil expired that Wednesday.
On June 1, the USTR finalized a trade investigation and imputed to Brazil the practice of 'unfair practices' that, according to the body, harm American companies and exporters, recommending a 25% tax on Brazilian products. The established list of exceptions includes items such as oil and gas, pig iron, aluminum, aviation parts, pharmaceutical inputs, honey, orange, orange juice, beef, and coffee.
Additionally, the USTR pointed to PIX, judicial decisions against large technology corporations, anti-corruption initiatives, access to ethanol, and deforestation combat policies as restrictive factors to US trade. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that despite extensive negotiations over the past year not resolving these issues, the body remains open to continuous dialogues with Brazil to promote the necessary changes in the points raised by the investigation.
In return, the Palácio do Planalto declared that July 15, 2026, will be marked in the history of relations between Brazil and the US as a 'lamentable milestone.' The official note emphasized that there is no basis for adopting unilateral measures against Brazil and that the Government does not recognize the validity of investigations that lack support in multilateral trade norms.
Brasília also used data from the American government itself, indicating that the United States registered a surplus of 424.5 billion dollars (equivalent to 370 billion euros) in trade of goods and services with Brazil over the last fifteen years. The statement further reported that in 2025, 76% of imports from the US entered the country without payment of import tax, with an average effective rate applied to American products of only 3.1%.
The Brazilian Government mentioned that during the public hearings held by the USTR the previous week, 63 out of 78 statements from private sector representatives, both Brazilian and American, were against the imposition of tariffs. Furthermore, Brasília assured that negotiations never ceased and classified the allegations regarding PIX and the regulation of digital platforms as 'unfounded,' also considering the accusations related to deforestation as 'absurd.'
The note added Brazil's commitment to protecting families and children 'from the greed of a handful of techno-oligarchs' and reinforced that 'freedom of expression is not a blank check for criminality.' The Brazilian Government, once again, attributed the tariff outcome to the Bolsonaro family, calling them 'false patriots who publicly orchestrated and defended actions against our country, driven by electoral objectives.' It concluded by stating that 'one cannot love Brazil only when we win elections. Protecting our sovereignty is an obligation that is above all parties and all trends.'
The new Chery Fulwin A9 sedan is causing significant buzz in China due to its promise of 99 km/l fuel efficiency, combined with a competitive price and technological advancements. This mid-sized model was unveiled on July 9th.
In just 72 hours, the Fulwin A9 accumulated 18,173 confirmed orders, according to the automaker's executive vice president, Li Xueyong, on July 13th. The vehicle is available in the local market in fully electric and hybrid versions with an extended range, starting at approximately R$ 87 thousand (equivalent to 115,900 yuan) in direct conversion.
The most impactful highlight lies in the hybrid variant. According to the manufacturer, configurations equipped with an extended range—which uses an internal combustion engine as a generator for battery recharging—achieve a combined consumption of 99 km/l, a factor contributing to the excitement surrounding the launch. Additionally, the Fulwin A9 has purely electric options and can be found in its most expensive configuration for about R$ 102 thousand (135,900 yuan).
Aesthetically, Chery offered seven body colors, including names like Begonia Red and Mountain Smoke Purple, and implemented flush door handles to improve the side profile and reduce aerodynamic drag. This attention to efficiency is reflected in a drag coefficient of 0.223 Cd, a low value for the category, supported by a body length of 4.84 meters and a wheelbase of 2.90 meters.
In the electric versions, the sedan features a 242 hp rear motor, powered by a 70.11 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, and has a range of up to 655 km on the Chinese CLTC cycle. The extended range variants emphasize economy, showing the 99 km/l combined consumption and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, blending efficiency and performance.
The embedded technology is also a differentiator. The top version includes the Falcon driving assistance package, which integrates 27 sensors, such as a high-resolution LiDAR, three millimeter-wave radars, 11 cameras, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Internally, the vehicle features a 15.6-inch multimedia center with 2.5K resolution and a sound system composed of 23 speakers. To reassure consumers regarding safety, Chery guarantees that it will replace any unit damaged by thermal runaway of the battery.
Although commercial success in China has not yet been confirmed in Brazil, Chery has not announced plans to introduce the Fulwin A9 in the country. However, the combination of the announced 99 km/l consumption, the technological package, and the pricing position indicates the direction the brand plans to take to electrify its global lineup.
Neftgazmontaj, a subsidiary of Uzbekneftegaz, has appointed Bakhtiyor Husanov as the new director after conducting an analysis of the enterprise's operational activities.
The decision to change management was made after the analysis revealed several issues related to production, finance, and internal company management. The discussion on the efficiency of the enterprise's operations was chaired by Fazil Mahmudov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Uzbekneftegaz.
According to company data, in 2026, Neftgazmontaj concluded contracts worth over 2 trillion soums. Nevertheless, only 27% of planned construction work was completed in the first half of the year, and only 10 out of 220 projects were finished. Furthermore, it was noted that multi-month delays in salary payments negatively affected the staffing.
The inspection also found that the repair of specialized equipment and vehicles was conducted unsatisfactorily, despite the allocation of necessary funds. The comprehensive audit revealed instances where certain officials failed to comply with legal norms and financial discipline, leading to inefficient spending, deficits, and a deterioration of the company's financial position.
The inspection also criticized the inefficient use of assets, the presence of idle production capacities, and faulty equipment. Uzbekneftegaz management demanded strengthening control over compliance with public procurement legislation and implementing more transparent procurement procedures.
The previous management had been given a three-month probationary period to improve financial performance and strengthen the management system. Since the set goals were not fully achieved, the former director resigned voluntarily. The new director is tasked with restoring stability and operational efficiency at Neftgazmontaj, increasing production output, improving asset utilization, ensuring transparency in public procurement, and strengthening corporate governance.
The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, instructed responsible officials to create an intermodal logistics center in Belarus by the end of 2026 and organize direct block train services between the two countries.
These tasks were set during a review of agreements reached during the president's official visit to Belarus on July 8–9, 2026. Discussions on developing logistics infrastructure were part of efforts to expand bilateral trade and reduce freight transportation costs.
It is planned that the intermodal logistics center will be established in partnership with the Belarusian Railway at the Orsha railway station in the Vitebsk region. This facility will handle the export and import of goods under preferential tariffs.
The President also ordered the organization of direct block trains between Uzbekistan and Belarus in cooperation with Belarusian companies. Special attention was paid to ensuring employment for Uzbek citizens. Initially, 1100 people are expected to be employed through a competitive selection process across 13 enterprises in the Vitebsk region and other parts of Belarus.
It was noted that 255 residents from the Andijan region of Uzbekistan have already found jobs thanks to cooperation between the Andijan and Vitebsk regions. Starting in September, 500 people are planned to be sent to the Vitebsk region monthly. The goal of the program is to provide jobs to a total of 5000 Uzbek citizens. To support this initiative, a representative office of the Migration Agency will be opened in Vitebsk.
Furthermore, the president instructed officials to assist Uzbek entrepreneurs in opening bank accounts in Belarus, transferring funds to charter capital, and obtaining financing for joint projects. Preferential financing will also be allocated for the creation of a modern dairy complex, a wood processing enterprise, and a logistics company in Vitebsk.
At the conclusion of the meeting, responsible officials were mandated to ensure constant monitoring of the fulfillment of the agreements reached and to regularly assess progress according to approved roadmaps.
