The negative balance in the trade balance reached $ 1.23 billion in August, the highest of 2025; products affected by the tariff have recorded significant falls, such as sugar and fresh beef
Affected by the punitive charges of, Brazil’s exports to the United States fell 18.5% in August in an annual estimate, according to official data released on Thursday (4). The US President has imposed 50% customs tariffs since 6 August for various Brazilian products, the highest rate established so far to another country, arguing that there is an alleged “witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Trump’s ally, he is a defendant in the trial for attempted coup d’état in 2022. Brazilian exports to the US market totaled $ 2.76 billion in August, compared to 3.39 billion in the same month of 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC).
Brazil has maintained a commercial deficit with the United States for 16 uninterrupted years. The negative balance in the trade balance reached $ 1.23 billion in August, by far the highest of 2025. The products affected by the tariff recorded significant falls such as sugar (-88.4%) and fresh beef (-46.2%).
“It is very likely that this is related to tariffs, which generate higher price level and reduction of demand,” said the director of the MDIC Statistics Department, Herlon Brandão. But the fall also affected tariff -free products. “Probably the degree of uncertainty in July generated an anticipation of shipments,” Brandão explained.
Trump announced his tariff against Brazil on July 9, and just three weeks later, he released a list of almost 700 products that would be exempt from the charges. Despite the impact on sales to the United States, Brazil has a growth of 3.9% in its total exports, with a strong increase in China, Argentina and Mexico.
Federal Supreme Court (STF) Minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the case against Bolsonaro, said on Tuesday that the court will not assign to “external pressures” by deciding next week about the culpability of the former president in the coup plot. In addition to tariffs, the Trump government sanctioned some Supreme Ministers and other Brazilian authorities in solidarity with Bolsonaro.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Carol Santos
