LatinNews Daily - 09 October 2026

*Brazil’s minister for development, industry, trade, and services, Márcio Elias Rosa, has told the press that the presidential election will not interfere with the ongoing tariff negotiations with the US. In comments widely circulated in the local press, Rosa said that the election was not part of the discussions. This comes amid concerns from the Brazilian government about the alleged attempts by the US government of President Donald Trump to interfere in the elections to help right-wing opposition candidate Flávio Bolsonaro defeat President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro won the most votes in the first round on 4 October, and his campaign is gaining momentum ahead of the 25 October run-off. Speaking at an event in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, Rosa reportedly insisted that negotiations with the US in relation to the tariffs imposed on Brazil in July were going well, highlighting his recent meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. If Bolsonaro were to win the presidency, he has made it clear that he would seek closer ties with the US. However, yesterday he reportedly suggested during a meeting with governors elected for his right-wing Partido Liberal (PL) and allied parties in the 4 October gubernatorial elections that he would adopt a pragmatic approach to foreign policy and foster ties with a wide range of countries, including China.