Is the agreement in force, and what does it change for companies selling into Brazil?
The trade pillar has been provisionally in force since 1 May 2026, following signature in January of that year and ratification by Brazil. In practice, tariffs come down progressively across much of the trade between the two blocs, government procurement opens up on both sides, and geographical indications are mutually recognized. The broader partnership agreement, covering the political and cooperation pillars, still depends on the European Parliament and on ratification by the member states.
Can I keep European jurisdiction and governing law in a contract with a Brazilian customer?
In international business-to-business contracts, choosing foreign law and a foreign forum, or arbitration, is as a rule accepted in Brazil. The practical question is a different one: if the debtor's assets are in Brazil, collection ends up here, and a foreign judgment has to be recognized by the Superior Court of Justice before it has any effect, which adds time and cost. A foreign arbitral award goes through recognition as well. That is why the choice of forum is decided case by case, looking at where the assets are.
Which security actually works against a Brazilian customer?
It depends on the size of the deal and on what the counterparty can offer. The most common are personal guarantees from the shareholders, a bank guarantee, credit insurance, a chattel or real estate fiduciary lien, and a pledge. The central point is to put the security in place before delivery, with the formalities Brazilian law requires, and not after payment falls overdue. Security that is badly documented tends to be as weak as none at all.
Do I need to register my trademark in Brazil if it is already registered in Europe?
Yes. Trademark protection is territorial, and a European registration has no effect in Brazil. The Brazilian system favors whoever files first, with few exceptions, so a third party can register your mark here before you do. The same reasoning applies to patents and industrial designs. It is one of the first steps to take, ideally before showing the product at trade fairs, in catalogs or in negotiations.
Do I need a Brazilian company in order to sell here?
Not necessarily. You can export to a Brazilian importer or distributor with no local entity at all. Companies usually incorporate a subsidiary when they want to control pricing and the sales channel, invoice locally, import in their own name, hire staff or bid for public contracts. Where there is a shareholder abroad, the law requires a legal representative resident in Brazil, and the incoming capital must be registered with the Central Bank so that profits can be remitted and the investment repatriated.
My Brazilian customer has not paid. Is it worth pursuing collection in Brazil?
The answer starts with an asset search, not with a filing. We check for assets, litigation, encumbrances and signs of insolvency before recommending anything. Where there is something to collect against, we can proceed by negotiation, formal protest or enforcement, and a secured instrument moves considerably faster. Where no traceable assets exist, we say so plainly, because litigating with no prospect of payment only adds cost.
Does the tariff drop to zero automatically for European goods?
No. Two conditions have to come together. The product's tariff code must sit in a bracket that has already been reduced, because some lines went to zero when the agreement took effect while others follow timetables running several years. And the origin must be proven under the rule specific to that code, with the required documentation. Without both, the goods clear customs at the full tariff, and the difference can be assessed later.
What languages does the firm work in, and from where?
We work in Portuguese, English and Spanish, with remote meetings for head offices and teams in Europe and direct contact with your own lawyers and accountants abroad. Doering Darcie Advocacia e Consultoria is a Brazilian firm, with offices in São Paulo and Porto Alegre and practice throughout the country, which means your operation is handled by people working inside the same system in which it will be argued.
