 |
Ballard Partners has lined up the National Industry Confederation, which is the main representative of Brazil’s industrial sector, as a client for trade, tariff and Section 301 of the Trade Act matters.
The Confederation's mission is "to defend and represent the industry in the promotion of a favorable environment for business, competitiveness and sustainable development in Brazil."
The US Trade Representative in July announced a probe into whether Brazil’s policies on digital trade and electronic payment services hurt American social media companies.
President Trump also slapped a 50 percent tariff on most Brazilian imports because of its “witch-hunt” against his buddy and right-wing ex-president Jair Bolsonaro. He wants Bolsonaro’s supreme court trial squashed.
Brazil’s finance minister Fernando Haddad said on Aug. 18 that the country has reached an impasse with the US on resolving the tariff issue. “The US is trying to impose on Brazil a solution which is constitutionally impossible," he told an FT-CNBC conference in São Paulo.
Brian Ballard, who was a top Trump fundraiser, handles the DC push for Brazil.
He’s joined by partner Hunter Morgen, who served in the first Trump administration as a deputy to Peter Navarro and Stephen Miller on trade and immigration matters.
Anthropic, the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence start-up, has retained Republican powerhouse firm Fierce Government Relations for DC representation.
Chad Horrell, who was senior manager for government relations at DoorDash, has joined BGR Group as VP in its state and local practice.
Continental Strategy, which has close ties with the Trump administration, has registered Geneva-based Rolex as a client for services regarding the tariffs on watch imports.
Kimberly-Clark calls on Ballard Partners as it moves to acquires Kenvue, maker of Tylenol. 
Brett Horton, who was chief of staff to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, has joined the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. as its chief advocacy officer, a new position.
