USA accuses Brazil of imposing commercial barriers and criticizing rates

The government of US President Donald Trump (Republican) published a report on Monday (31.mar.2025) in which he accuses Brazil and other countries to impose commercial barriers against US products and exporters.

In the document, the country’s government criticizes Brazilian taxes and classifies the rates applied to ethanol, cachaça and electronic products as unfair. This is a (PDF – 3 MB).

O “National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers” It is announced annually by the (US commercial representative office). This year, the publication took place 2 days before the “tariff” that will be announced by Trump.

Read below what an excerpt from the 397 pages report says:

“Brazil imposes relatively high rates on imports in various sectors, including cars, automotive parts, information technology and electronics, chemicals, plastics, industrial machines, steel, textiles and clothing. In addition, consolidated tariffs are often higher than the tariffs applied, and US exporters face great uncertainty in the Brazilian market, as government market Often modifies tariffs.

Here are other points considered by the US as barriers imposed by Brazil:

Non -tariff barriers:

• import prohibitions – “Brazil restricts the entry of certain types of remanufactured goods. The importation of these products is only allowed if the importer proves that they are not or cannot be produced domestically, or if they meet certain limited exceptions.”;
• import licensing – “The non -automatic licensing system applies to products that require authorization from ministries or specific agencies, such as agricultural commodities and beverages the lack of transparency in these processes hinders exports from the US. In the automotive sector, delays in the emission of non -automatic import licenses impact negatively imposing exports of US vehicles and automotive parts to Brazil.”

Sanitary barriers:

• biofuels – “Brazil’s National Biofuels Policy encourages the development and use of biofuels through the creation of a carbon credit market to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions. However, current program rules prevent foreign producers from participating and qualifying for carbon credits.”.
• wines – “Brazil requires duplicate documentation for wine import. It requires that imported wines have both an analysis certificate and an inspection pre-certification report issued by a Brazilian laboratory.”;
• telecommunications – “Since December 2021, the National Telecommunications Agency has required prior approval for the importation of telecommunications products intended for use and sale in Brazil, with exceptions for products intended for demonstration, own use, scientific research or export manufacturing”.;
• pig farming – “The Brazilian market is still closed for fresh, frozen pork in the US. Brazil argues that US imports from the US pork pigor risks associated with African pork plague, but has not shown scientific evidence justifying the ban.”

Customs Barriers:

• There are inconsistencies in the documentation requirements to import certain goods;
• They criticize change in the requirements for temporary admission of goods, which, according to the country, makes it difficult to enter samples, equipment or materials for exhibitions without payment of customs tariffs.

Government purchases:

• international suppliers – “Brazil also imposes restrictions and prefers national suppliers. State companies can only hire foreign services if there is no available national expertise, and foreign companies can only participate in bids for technical services if there are no qualified Brazilian companies.”

Lula says there will be reaction

The President (PT) on Wednesday (26.mar) Survey products from the United States if an appeal in the WTO (World Trade Organization) does not solve the issue of additional fees charged by Trump to Brazilian steel and aluminum.

“From Brazil, he [Trump] He taxed Brazilian steel at 25%. We have two decisions to make. One is to resort to the World Trade Organization, which we will turn to, and the other is that we will overcharge the American products we import. It is putting into practice the law of reciprocity. We can’t be quiet thinking that only they are right and that only they can tax the products ”declared the petista in an interview with journalists in Japan.

Then Lula said that before imposing reciprocity on the taxes charged by the Republican, the statement was given during a speech at the Brazil-Vietnam Forum on Saturday (29.mar).