Brazilian Blik in Trump's crosshair. The US accuse “unfair commercial practices”

The PIX payment system, used daily by millions of Brazilians, was in the crosshairs of the investigation of US President Donald Trump, who accuses Brazil authorities of “unfair commercial practices” – the daily “Financial Times” said on Tuesday.

Pix, launched by the Brazilian Central Bank in 2020, is assessed as the success of FinTech. From the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to the farthest corners of the Amazon Forest, it has become an integral part of the lives of the inhabitants. Thanks to him, over 70 million Brazilians gained access to financial services for the first time.

Trump accuses Pix of discriminating against American corporations issuing credit cards such as Mastercard. There are also opinions that the Brazilian Central Bank helped Pix in a competition with the payment system of the American group Meta.

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PIX is usually operated by a mobile phone. It is used by about 160 million people, i.e. three -quarters of Brazil's population, and is responsible for almost half of the transactions made in this country in terms of value. It is used by both billionaires and the inhabitants of the favela – emphasized “FT”.

-This is a very important tool for people who have difficulty leaving the house-said 41-year-old Alessandra Karap from the uniform tribe, inhabiting the Amazonian condition of the couple. She estimated that Pix had a positive impact on marginalized groups, such as indigenous communities.

Pixa users pay low fees, usually about 0.22 percent. transaction value, compared to 1 percent in the case of debit cards and even over 2 percent. with credit cards. Transfers are made by scanning QR code or entering the recipient's data: tax number, phone number or e-mail address.

“FT” points out, however, that not everyone is happy with Pixa's success. According to the Brazilian company Ebanx, the system will overtake credit cards this year and will become the main payment method in online trade. In 2022, the then president of Central Bank Roberto Campos estimated that PIX “eliminates the need to have a credit card”.

The president of the Brazilian branch of Mastercard Marcelo Tangioni called in 2022 to disconnect Pix from the Central Bank. He assessed that the bank “cannot compete and regulate at the same time.” The largest banks are obliged to cooperate with Pix in Brazil.

“FT” emphasizes that the reasons for questioning the central bank's activities also have a metal concern, although it publicly did not raise objections. The WhatsApp messenger belonging to the finish line launched a mobile payment system in Brazil in 2020, but soon the central bank blocked it in practice, justifying this by the regulations on competition and data protection. He got permission to resume his activity only a year later, six months after the Pixa launched.

In his campaign against the authorities of Brazil, Trump also threatened 50 % duties on goods from this country, demanding the end of the trial of the former president, his political ally Jaira Bolsonaro, accused of preparing a coup after the election of 2022, in which he succumbed to the current head of the state Luiz, Lui, Luli. (PAP)

Wia/ AP/