North American government wants tax on Brazilian imports; Deadline for response is July 15th
The government of the President of the United States, (Republican Party), proposed on Monday (June 1, 2026) a 25% tariff on a wide list of products imported from Brazil. The measure was presented after a commercial investigation concluded that the country adopted practices considered unfair and harmful to North American companies, according to the journalist, from
The investigation was conducted based on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, an instrument that authorizes the US to apply tariffs and other sanctions against commercial practices considered abusive. The USTR (United States Trade Representative), Jamieson Greer, stated that the investigation identified Brazilian failures in the protection of intellectual property, the fight against corruption and access to the ethanol market. The US government also cited insufficient enforcement of laws to combat deforestation.
Greer said that he and Trump had “several constructive meetings” with the president (PT) over the last year, but that there are still “substantial differences” on the topics investigated. The USTR has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed measures for July 6. Brazil will have until July 15 to present responses to the US complaints.
The proposal was presented after an attempt at rapprochement between Lula and Trump. Those in Washington on May 7 and dealt with tariffs, fighting organized crime and critical minerals. Then, the 30-day deadline to negotiate trade measures with the USA.
The list of affected products will still have exceptions. Items such as beef, coffee, rare earth metals, aeronautical equipment and some fruits and vegetables would be excluded from the tariff.
The measure is part of Trump’s attempt to rebuild his tariff policy after legal defeats in the US. The North American government began using country-specific investigations to support new charges on imports. Section 301 requires consultations, hearings and individual verification before tariffs take effect.
The proposal was also presented after friction between the 2 countries in 2025. That year, Trump discussed Brazilian imports as a way of pressuring Brazil to stop the legal process against the former president (PL), an ally of the Republican. Afterwards, court decisions limited the scope of charges.
The United States has maintained a trade surplus with Brazil for a decade.
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