Brazil pledges to battle Trump tariff injustice.

Brazil Readies “Reciprocal” Response to Trump’s Tariff Surge

Executive Order Adds 40% Duty on Brazil’s Exports

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will raise the duty on Brazilian products to 50%, with an additional 40% tariff taking effect on August 6.

Key Affected Commodities

• Coffee – Brazil is the world’s top coffee exporter.
• Meat – Brazil holds the largest meat export market.

Brazil’s Reply: “Fairer Than Expected, Yet Injust”

Finance Minister Fernando Haddad acknowledged that the tariffs were “more favorable” than anticipated and that several major products were exempted. However, he warned that the measures “still represent a lot of injustice” and that “corrections need to be made.”

Exemptions: Nearly 700 Products Listed

The order exempted almost 700 other products, including:

• Planes – a strategic export for Brazil.
• Orange Juice and Pulp – major foreign‑trade drivers.
• Brazil Nuts – a key agricultural export.
• Iron, Steel and Aluminum Products – essential components of Brazil’s industrial sector.

Brazil’s Strategic Counter‑Action

Brazil vowed to contest the tariff increases through appeals if last‑ditch negotiations with the United States fail. “Brazil intends to lodge appeals if last‑ditch negotiations fail,” the finance minister advised reporters. The Brazilian government therefore plans to launch formal trade appeals to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).

Background: “Witch Hunt” Targeting Jair Bolsonaro

The tariff surge comes amid a broader context in which U.S. President Trump signed an executive order that, among other things, listed a wild‑hunt against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro – who is on trial for allegedly plotting a coup.

Summary

Brazil is poised to take a “reciprocal” stance against U.S. tariffs, engaging in a legal battle and diplomatic dialogue to protect its export markets while preserving its industrial and agricultural interests.

Brazil Faces U.S. Tariff Attack, Lula Declares Sovereignty Deficit

Tariff Tactics: U.S. Targets 36 % of Brazil’s Exports

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, now leading negotiations with Washington, disclosed that the new tariff will affect nearly 36 % of Brazil’s exports to the United States. This amounts to roughly $14.5 billion last year.

Minister of Treasury Wagner Haddad said Brazil will initiate a cycle of talks with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. While he did not provide a specific date, he emphasized that Brazil’s starting position is “more favorable than one could have imagined,” yet remains “far from the finish line.”

Potential Appeal Pathway

If negotiations fail, Haddad warned that Brasilia would file appeals with U.S. authorities and international bodies, marking a clear strategy for defending against the tariff on strategic goods.

Brazil’s Economic Impact and Protective Measures

• Reginaldo Nogueira of IBMEC’s business school described the tariffs as “harsh measures that will have a real impact on important sectors of the Brazilian economy.”
• The exemptions in the tariff mitigate some pressure but primarily protect strategic goods for the American economy.
• Haddad stated that the Brazilian government would implement protection measures for the most affected companies, noting that “nothing decided yesterday can be reviewed.”

Legal and Political Motives Behind the U.S. Order

The White House cited the Brazilian government’s “politically motivated persecution, intimidation, harassment, censorship, and prosecution” of former President Bolsonaro and his supporters as a justification for the tariffs. It also cited Brazil’s “unusual and extraordinary policies and actions harming U.S. companies, free speech rights, foreign policy, and the economy,” single‑out Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

Justice Moraes, presiding over Bolsonaro’s coup trial, has repeatedly clashed with Brazil’s far‑right and with tech titan Elon Musk over online misinformation. The U.S. Treasury announced financial sanctions on Moraes on Wednesday, stating that he had “taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt against U.S. and Brazilian citizens and companies.”

A Supreme Court source told AFP that Moraes “does not have assets in the United States,” where the sanctions would have frozen them.

Conclusion: Negotiations and Appeals Remain Open

The Brazilian tariff dispute will continue with a cycle of negotiations and potential appeals, underscoring the economic and legal stakes for both nations.