Brazil currently pays the highest tariffs to the United States after China, which is currently negotiating on this issue.
The cumulative tariff rate that Brazilian products must pay to enter the US market is 50 percent.
In the first half of 2025, the United States exported products to the Brazilian market worth $26.555 billion. Conversely, the flow was $22.011 billion. As a result, the United States recorded a surplus of $4.544 billion.
Highest tariffs
Globally, Brazil is the fifth largest territory, the seventh most populous country, and ranks as the ninth largest economy in the world.
The United States and Brazil maintain strong political and economic ties, with cooperation in security and trade. However, differences in the way each country conducts politics and, at times, their differing interests have limited the progress of closer cooperation.
Since January 2025, and reinforced after Liberation Day, the presidente Donald Trump administration has focused its tariff policy on a strategy that marks a profound shift in the United States’ trade relationship with the world, which has so far been divided into three fronts:
- Reciprocal tariffs and agreements
- Sectoral investigations under Section 232.
- Tariffs justified on grounds of migration and combating fentanyl.
As for reciprocal tariffs, during the first week of July 2025, Trump sent letters to more than 70 countries announcing tariffs ranging from 10 to 40%, with 40% applied to Brazil and India. These tariffs came into effect on August 7.
Impact on Brazil
In recent weeks, Trump announced trade agreements with the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines.
Currently, the United States charges Brazil a 10% tariff under Executive Order 14326 of July 31, 2025. In addition, an extra 40% is applied under Order 14323, bringing the total to 50%, with some exceptions since August 6.
With this, and regardless of what happens with China, the United States charges the highest tariffs to Brazil.
Here are the highest tariffs charged by U.S. customs:
- Brazil: 50 percent.
- Syria: 41 percent.
- Myanmar: 40 percent.
- Laos: 40 percent.
- Switzerland: 39 percent.
- Canada: 35 percent (goods that do not comply with USMCA rules).
The United States is engaged in a trade and technology war with China.