The USTR (United States Trade Representative) proposed, in a document released late this Monday night (1), the imposition of 25% tariffs on all imports from Brazil, except for goods that are classified as “subject to national security tariffs”.
The agency says it has determined that issues regarding digital trade, certain tariffs and illegal deforestation are subject to prosecution under so-called Section 301 of the Act — a trade policy tool that empowers Americans to counter unfair trade practices. In this group, beef, coffee, certain fruits and nuts, spices, oil and metal ores would be exempt from punitive tariffs.
In a note, the USTR says that “certain acts, policies and practices of Brazil related to digital commerce and electronic payment services; unfair preferential tariffs; protection of intellectual property; access to the ethanol market; and illegal deforestation are unreasonable and burden or restrict U.S. commerce, and are therefore subject to legal action under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act.”
“I initiated this Section 301 investigation at President Trump’s request to address long-standing and widespread U.S. concerns regarding certain Brazilian trade policies and practices. Over the past year, President Trump and I have had several constructive meetings with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his office, which have intensified in recent weeks,” said Ambassador Jamieson Greer.
“However, we continue to have substantial divergences in resolving the issues identified in this investigation. I look forward to continuing the dialogue with the Brazilian Government, before the legal deadline of July 15, 2026 for taking corrective measures.”
