Who will speak at the US hearing on tariffs

In early June, the USTR released the results of an investigation initiated in 2025 and accused Brazil of unfair commercial practices, such as preference for Pix among electronic payment services, “unfair and preferential” tariffs and failures to apply anti-corruption measures, protect intellectual property and combat illegal deforestation.

The public hearings, which will be held at the US International Trade Commission in Washington, are one of the last steps before the Donald Trump administration makes a decision on whether the 25% surcharge – which the USTR has recommended not be applied to several products such as beef, rare earths and aircraft – will actually be imposed.

Roberto Azêvedo, a Brazilian diplomat and former director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), was hired last year by representatives of the private sector to participate in negotiations on tariffs and will speak three times at the hearings.

Check the list of hearing participants and the bodies they represent:

Monday (6), starting at 10am Washington (11am Brasília)

Panel 1

• Andressa Silva, Brazilian Rice Industry Association (Abiarroz)
• Mark Bitting, empresa Gehring Montgomery
• Vinicius Vanzella, Gelatin Manufacturers Association of South America (Sagma)
• Marcelo Schunn Junqueira, Brazilian Rural Society
• Mark Wilson, US Grains and Bioproducts Council
• Andrew LaVigne, American Seed Trade Association

Panel 2

• Paulo Wenceslau, company FN USA
• Bill Bullard, United Cattlemen and Cattlemen of America Legal Action Fund
• Justin Tupper, United States Cattlemen’s Association
• Fernanda Carneiro, Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (CNA)
• Dan Haney, Alltech company

Panel 3

• Marcos Matos, Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé)
• José Luiz Pimenta Junior, Brazilian Association of the Soluble Coffee Industry (ABICS)
• William Murray, US National Coffee Association
• João Marcelo Messas, Brazilian Association of Honey Exporters
• Joelma Lambertucci de Brito, consultancy Lambertucci Trade Solution
• Beth Hughes, American Apparel and Footwear Association

Panel 4

• Kristina Rosales, American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil
• James Poole, empresa Obelisk Tech Systems
• Anne Mckinney, US Chamber of Commerce
• Paulo Figueiredo, journalist
• Stefano Mozzi, Bauducco company
• Jody Bickett, empresa Wholesome Sweeteners

Panel 5

• Arlen Penner, empresa Prairie Imports
• Andrew Sargeantson, empresa Sunland Trading
• Michael Carle, empresa Sweet Harvest Foods
• Clint Hagen, American Beet Growers Association and US Beet Sugar Association
• Mark Tasman, empresa Peachtree Playthings
• Marni Karlin, empresa Stonyfield Organic

Panel 6

• Melinda St. Louis
• Dan Anthony, We Pay the Tariffs
• Vinicius Nunes Pinto
• Gustavo Pessoa
• Ashley Amidon, International Wood Products Association

Panel 7

• Rodrigo A. de Ouro Preto Santos, Brazilian Intellectual Property Association (ABPI)
• Chris Bliley, empresa Growth Energy
• Matthew Frostic, National Corn Growers Association
• Edward Hubbard, US Renewable Fuels Association
• Andrea Almeida, National Corn Ethanol Union of Brazil (Unem)
• Welber Barral, Brazilian Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry Union (Unica)

The hearings will be interrupted and will be resumed on Tuesday (7)starting at the same time as Monday.

Panel 8

• Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), Brazilian senator
• Roberto Azêvedo, National Confederation of Industry (CNI)
• Letícia Sperb Masselli, Brazilian Association of Footwear Industries (Abicalçados)
• Matt Priest, Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA)
• Peter Grueterich, company JPT Group LLC Bernardo Calçado

Panel 9

• Pete Ruggiero, Crayola LLC
• Jonathan Gold, US National Retail Federation
• Lauren Gray, empresa Dillard’s Inc.
• Roberto Azêvedo, Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp)
• Tim Tarpley, US Energy Technology and Workforce Council

Panel 10

• Roberto Azêvedo, Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN)
• Alais Coluchi, Brazilian Association of Manufacturers of Ceramic Tiles and Sanitary Ware and Related Products (Anfacer)
• Wilton José Machado, company Brasil Minérios
• João Baroni, company Engemasa Engineering and Materials
• Atom Saverse, empresa Isolatek International Corporation
• Timothy Brightbill, Coalition of American Woodworking Producers

Panel 11

• Colby Slaughter, empresa Rayonier Advanced Materials
• Homero Busnello, Tecumseh company from Brazil
• Nils Kah, empresa SHF Yachts
• Bret Vorhees, empresa Taurus Holdings
• Timothy Bauer, Amyris company
• Mark Kaplan, US Mill Supply Coalition

Panel 12

• Tessa Capeloto, Century Aluminum company
• Kyle Lundin, Empresa Mesabi Metallics
• Celso Figueiredo, Iron Industry Union in the State of Minas Gerais (Sindifer)
• Brandon Farris, US Steel Manufacturers Association
• Fernando Staudt, company Altus Automation Systems
• Wagner Parente, Brazilian Association of the Machinery and Equipment Industry (Abimaq)

Panel 13

• Peter Barry, empresa WEG Electric Corp.
• Matthew Barron, Sylvamo Company
• Welber Oliveira Barral, Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá)
• Celso Figueiredo, company Klabin SA
• Patrick Bloom, empresa Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
• Barry Schneider, empresa Steel Dynamics Inc.

Panel 14

• Fabio Cruz, Brazilian Association of Natural Stones (Centrorochas)
• James Hieb, US Natural Stone Institute (NSI)
• Janelle Edmonds, empresa Wisenbaker Builder Services
• James Durbin, Portobello America company
• Gian Carlo Ameida Marodin, Brazilian Association of the Mechanically Processed Wood Industry (Abimci)