The Brazilian government is actively weighing a formal challenge at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union’s impending decision to remove Brazil from its list of authorized animal product exporters, a measure that threatens approximately $1.8 billion in annual trade. The exclusion, set to take effect on September 3, targets beef, poultry, and fish, and is being justified by the European Commission over Brazil’s alleged failure to provide sufficient guarantees on the control of antimicrobials in animal production across its supply chain. Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, has claimed the move carries a “political motivation,” particularly given the decision comes shortly after the provisional entry into force of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.