US Senate Approves Bill to Revoke Trump's Tariffs on Brazil Amid Trade Tensions
The U.S. Senate has approved a bill to revoke tariffs imposed on Brazil during Trump's presidency, but the measure faces hurdles in the House and potential veto by Trump amid ongoing U.S.-Brazil trade tensions.
- • U.S. Senate passed a bill 52-48 to revoke Trump's tariffs on Brazilian products.
- • Five Republican senators joined Democrats in supporting the bill.
- • The bill faces likely rejection in the Republican-controlled House and a probable Trump veto.
- • A recent positive meeting between Presidents Lula and Trump took place to discuss trade and tariffs.
Key details
The U.S. Senate voted 52 to 48 to approve a bill aimed at revoking the 50% tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump on Brazilian products such as oil, coffee, and orange juice. The measure, led by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, is part of a broader effort to nullify trade restrictions introduced via a national emergency declaration by Trump in July 2025, citing alleged Brazilian threats to U.S. national security through legal actions involving former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Kaine criticized the tariffs as detrimental taxes on American consumers and businesses, questioning the justification of a national emergency for trade sanctions given that the U.S. maintains a trade surplus with Brazil.
Despite five Republican senators, including high-profile figures such as Mitch McConnell and Susan Collins, voting with Democrats in the Senate, the bill faces a challenging path ahead. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which has adopted procedural rules effectively blocking similar bills, is unlikely to bring the resolution to a vote, and President Trump is expected to veto any repeal attempts. The Senate vote marks a symbolic stance reflecting growing bipartisan unease with Trump's trade policies.
The tariff dispute has taken on diplomatic dimensions, with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Trump recently meeting in Kuala Lumpur in a reportedly positive discussion about improving U.S.-Brazil trade relations. Brazilian and U.S. delegations also met for preliminary talks to negotiate potential resolutions to the trade conflict.
Trade sanctions against Brazil are unusual because the U.S. runs a trade surplus with Brazil, contrary to Trump's stated aims to reduce deficits through tariffs. Critics have accused Trump of politically motivated tariffs affecting Brazil amid tensions over Bolsonaro's prosecution.
Kaine emphasized that tariffs imposed unilaterally by Trump "make both building and buying in the U.S. more expensive," calling for a reassessment of U.S. trade policy. However, the bill's future remains uncertain given legislative and executive opposition.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (5)
Source comparison
Reason for national emergency declaration
Sources disagree on the reason for Trump's national emergency declaration related to tariffs.
gazetadopovo.com.br
"the national emergency declared by Trump in July was used as the legal basis for the tariffs."
exame.com
"the national emergency declared by Trump in July in response to Brazil's investigation and legal actions against former president Jair Bolsonaro regarding an alleged coup attempt."
agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br
"the emergency was declared in response to the judgment of Jair Bolsonaro for an alleged coup attempt."
veja.abril.com.br
"Trump justified his tariffs by referencing a supposed 'witch hunt' related to the coup attempt against Jair Bolsonaro."
Why this matters: Sources provide conflicting accounts regarding the justification for Trump's national emergency declaration. One source states it was in response to Brazil's investigation into Jair Bolsonaro, while another source claims it was related to a legal action against a friend of Trump. This discrepancy affects the understanding of the context and implications of the tariffs.