US imposing a 25% tariff on some Brazilian imports starting July 22,
citing unfair trade practices
[July 16, 2026] By
MICHELLE L. PRICE
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is imposing 25% tariffs on imports
from Brazil after finding a range of what it deemed unfair trade
practices by the world’s 10th-biggest economy.
The tariffs, which were first proposed last month, will take effect July
22.
The order exempts some goods that are not produced in the U.S. or that
officials worry would disrupt supply chains. Exempted products include
coffee, beef, oranges and orange juice, some oil and gas energy products
and aerospace parts and components.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative concluded after a yearlong
investigation that Brazil had a range of unfair trade practices,
including lax anti-corruption enforcement and unfair tariffs of its own,
among other practices seen as unreasonable and unfair. The U.S.,
however, has had a goods trade surplus with Brazil for years.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement that the
action was necessary to ensure American workers and companies compete on
a level playing field.
“Extensive negotiations with Brazil over the past year have not resolved
these issues, but we remain open to continuing negotiations with Brazil
to bring about long-needed changes to the problems identified in this
investigation,” he said.
After U.S. officials in early June warned that they were proposing the
tariffs, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reacted with
indignation. He instead pointed to political considerations, blaming his
rival in the country's October elections, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro had recently visited Washington and is the son of former
President Jair Bolsonaro, an ally of President Donald Trump.
[to top of second column] |
President Donald Trump speaks at the United States Army War College
in Carlisle, Pa., during the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation
Summit, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said
in a post on X about the announcement of the tariffs: “Let there be
no confusion about why: President Lula and his government have not
negotiated with the US in good faith. His economic policies are bad
for Americans and bad for Brazilians. For the past year, Lula has
put his own ego ahead of making a deal for the welfare of the
Brazilian people, and these tariffs are the price for that.”
The tariffs are being imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of
1974, allowing the U.S. to launch the investigation into Brazil’s
trade practices.
The U.S. Supreme Court in February ruled against many of Trump's
tariffs imposed under a different law, the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977. The court found he overstepped
his authority under that act to impose sweeping tariffs on U.S.
trading partners, including Brazil.
Trump had under that law imposed a 50% tariff on Brazil to protest
its prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro for trying to overturn his loss in
a 2022 election. But Trump's relationship with Lula seemed to
improve in May, when he visited the White House.
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