The administration of President Donald Trump has proposed the introduction of a 25% tariff on products imported from Brazil, after the United States Trade Representative (USTR) concluded that this country applies trade practices considered „unreasonable” and affecting American trade.
According to USTR, the investigation identified issues in several areas, including the enforcement of anti-corruption legislation, intellectual property protection, ethanol market access, and combating illegal deforestation, as reported by Reuters.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the investigation was launched at the direct request of President Trump.
Greer noted that, although Trump had several constructive meetings with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the two countries continue to have significant differences regarding the issues identified in the trade investigation.
American authorities will hold a public hearing on July 6 before making a final decision.
Section 301 of U.S. trade law allows the U.S. administration to impose tariffs against states that engage in practices considered discriminatory or harmful to American economic interests.
Brazil was already at the center of a trade conflict with Washington in 2025 when the Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff on certain Brazilian products, citing legal action against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. However, these measures were later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, and Brazilian exports remained subject only to the general tariff of 10%.
Separately, the White House announced the relaxation of tariffs on certain imports of steel, aluminum, and copper. Tariffs applied to agricultural equipment, such as combines and harvesters, will be reduced from 25% to 15%, and the list of eligible equipment will be expanded.
Furthermore, industrial equipment containing at least 85% U.S.-produced steel and aluminum will benefit from a reduced tariff of 10%, compared to the current 95% level.