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According to lawyer Davi Aragão, if secondary sanctions are applied, Banco do Brasil may have blocked the payment of salaries, entire crops, and exports in 2025.
The Banco do Brasil is the backbone of the national financial system. Founded in 1808, with over two centuries of operation and presence in 20 countries, it manages assets exceeding R$ 2 trillion. Its role ranges from paying public servants to large-scale agricultural financing, also extending to support Brazilian exports.
However, the bank has come under the radar of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. According to lawyer Davi Aragão, there is a risk of applying secondary sanctions under the Magnitsky Act, American legislation created in 2012 to punish entities accused of supporting democratic violations or already sanctioned actors. If realized, the effects could paralyze part of the Brazilian economy.
What Are Secondary Sanctions?
Primary sanctions, applied in July 2025, were already targeting specific individuals and institutions linked to Brazil.
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Secondary sanctions expand the impact because they punish any international institution that maintains ties with Banco do Brasil.
In practice, this would mean disconnecting Banco do Brasil from the global financial system, blocking settlement operations and international transfers.
This rupture would directly affect the settlement of exports, payment of social benefits, and the flow of rural credit.
Immediate Impact on the Economy
The first effect would be on millions of daily transactions. Salaries of civil servants, pensions, and transfers of social programs could be compromised.
Agricultural financing, one of the pillars of Banco do Brasil’s operations, would also come to a halt, affecting everyone from small producers to large exporters.
Experts warn that the 2026 harvest could be compromised, raising internal costs and reducing the international competitiveness of Brazilian agribusiness.
As a consequence, there would be repercussions on food prices, the commodities market, and the trade balance.
Exports Under Threat
The Banco do Brasil is a key player in international settlements of strategic products like soy, iron ore, and oil.
Without full access to global banking networks, exporters would be left unpaid and contracts could be terminated, harming companies and the exchange balance.
Europe and the United States could increase diplomatic pressure, forcing Brazil to seek alternatives in parallel financial systems, such as those from Chinese and Russian state banks.
Political and Diplomatic Repercussions
According to lawyer Davi Aragão, such a sanction would not be just against a bank, but against the entire financial infrastructure of Brazil.
The effect would be comparable to a partial blockade, unprecedented since the redemocratization.
The government would have to respond with emergency measures, such as creating parallel compensation mechanisms, agreements with strategic allies, and changes in its foreign policy.
But any move in this direction could increase friction with the U.S. and the European Union.
The Risk of Daily Collapse
More than a clash between governments, the risk falls on the practical lives of Brazilians.
Workers could be left without salaries, producers without credit, and exporters without international settlements.
This is not a common banking crisis, but a direct attack on the financial heart of the country.
This scenario raises questions about the resilience of the national financial system and how far international pressure can affect the economic routine of millions of people.
In your opinion, can sanctions against Banco do Brasil lead to an economic collapse, or does the country have viable alternatives to sidestep U.S. pressure? Do you believe the impact will be more diplomatic or practical in the daily life of Brazilians? Share your thoughts in the comments — we want to hear from those monitoring this situation in practice.
O Brasil precisa ter um sistema operacional financeiro próprio esse senário nos dexa claro não devemos confiar em ninguém.
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