The 2026 US National Trade Estimate Report identified BCB's requirement that institutions with over 500,000 accounts participate in PIX as a barrier to American electronic payment providers. President Lula responded on April 2 in Salvador that 'PIX belongs to Brazil, and nobody will make us change PIX for the service it provides to Brazilian society.'
The NTE report, released March 31, stated that BCB 'created, owns, operates, and regulates' PIX, characterizing the central bank's dual role as giving the system preferential treatment over competing payment methods. The Trump administration launched a Section 301 investigation into Brazil's digital trade and electronic payment services in July 2025.
Brazil's Foreign Ministry responded that PIX ensures financial system security without discriminating against foreign companies.