Experts debate Trump's tariff hike in Congress

Against a backdrop of high interest rates, economic uncertainty, and the August 6th entry into force of tariffs imposed by the United States on Brazil, the 14th Andav 2025 Congress will bring together economists and market analysts to discuss crucial issues facing Brazilian agriculture. This year's program features panels on rural credit, the economy, tariff wars, and the challenges facing the inputs market, reinforcing the event's strategic role as a forum for connecting and hosting important debates in agribusiness.

One of the highlights is the Credit in Distribution Panel, which will take place at 11 a.m. on August 7th and will be moderated by consultant André Pessoa. The debate will address the digital revolution, new financial solutions, and strategies to expand access to credit in agriculture. Panelists will include Carlos Aguiar Neto (Director of Agribusiness at Banco Santander), Filipe Paiva (Founding Partner of Unibarter/Uniagro Group), and Moacir Teixeira (Founding Partner of Ecoagro).

For Teixeira, it's time to recognize the distributor's role as a key link in financing rural producers. "I want to reflect on the strategic role of input distribution as a key link in financing small and medium-sized producers. This link is crucial to sustaining the agricultural chain and can—and should—be strengthened within the capital market's credit structure. The proposal is to show how this channel can be valued and integrated into more structured financing models, generating benefits for the entire production chain," he says.

Regarding the current rural credit scenario, the panelist emphasizes the challenges and highlights gaps in Brazilian agricultural policy. "The current credit scenario is challenging, pressured by high interest rates and fiscal uncertainties that directly impact the Brazilian economy. A clear example was the recent announcement of the Harvest Plan, which, year after year, becomes more of a political showcase than an effective credit policy, focusing on free resources and making no progress in the discussion of rural insurance, which is crucial for the sector. Even so, agriculture remains resilient. It is the main pillar of Brazil's exports and remains in motion, even in the face of turbulence," explains Teixeira.

The program also features economist Sérgio Vale (MB Associados), who will analyze the country's political and macroeconomic scenario, including the impacts of the tariff crisis imposed by the United States. "I will comment on the current economic situation and the impacts of the tariff crisis on the Brazilian economy and the general consequences of what the US is causing to the world. I will also address domestic issues that affect asset prices, such as the fiscal situation and next year's election," he states. Sérgio Vale's lecture will be on August 6th at 10:XNUMX am.

Another highly anticipated speaker is Carlos Cogo (Managing Partner of Cogo Inteligência em Agronegócio), who will present an overview of the 2025/2026 harvest, highlighting the effects of international geopolitics, production costs, and new market opportunities. "We will discuss two key drivers of impact: the intensification of the tariff war between major powers and the consequences of the new conflict in the Middle East—both with direct impacts on international commodity trade, input costs, and global logistics flows," says Cogo, whose lecture will be on August 5th at 14 pm.

The agenda also includes the panel "Distributor: Market Access," moderated by Alberto Yoshida (Adubos Real), which will bring together industry leaders such as Angelo Siqueira (Crop Agrícola), Benhur Vione (3tentos), Mario Augusto (Agroshop), and Ricardo Bonacin (Núcleo Agrícola). "Our panel highlights the strategic role of Distribution, which offers more than just inputs to the field, but also delivers trust, predictability, and results. This is what sustains long-term relationships. What we will discuss here is the importance of professional management, organization, and governance," states Yoshida.

To conclude the ANDAV Congress Plenary Session, the more than 1.500 attendees will attend a presentation by economist Ricardo Amorim, starting at 15 p.m. He will speak on the topic "Brazilian Agroeconomy: Opportunities and Transformations."

With themes that reflect the current challenges and opportunities in agriculture, the Andav Congress has established itself as the main forum for debate on the distribution of inputs in Brazil, bringing together companies, investors, and producers in search of solutions for a constantly changing market.

Now in its 14th edition, the ANDAV Congress's central theme is "Brazilian Agroeconomy: The Force that Transforms," reinforcing Brazil's strategic role in global agribusiness and the sector's transformative power. With four pavilions and over 24 square meters of exhibition space, the event features 250 exhibiting brands and is expected to attract 14 attendees.