Trump signs order to remove tariffs on Brazilian beef, coffee
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A refund of the duties collected on those goods while the tariffs were still being charged may be required.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NEW YORK - US President Donald Trump on Nov 20 removed his 40 per cent tariffs on Brazilian food products, including beef, coffee, cocoa and fruits, that were imposed in July to punish Brazil over the prosecution of its former president and an ally of Mr Trump, Jair Bolsonaro.
The move follows a similar order by the administration on Nov 14 to remove tariffs on several agricultural products from other countries as the White House makes a U-turn on some tariffs that have increased the cost of food in the United States.
The order will affect Brazilian imports to the US on or after Nov 13 and may require a refund of the duties collected on those goods while the tariffs were still being charged, according to the text of the order released by the White House.
Brazil normally supplies a third of the coffee used in the US, the world’s largest coffee drinker.
The South American country has more recently become an important supplier of beef, particularly the type that is used to make burgers.
US retail coffee prices rose as much as 40 per cent in 2025 due to the tariffs and other market factors such as weather-induced production shortfalls.
Rising food prices are a major factor behind Mr Trump’s declining approval ratings, which have fallen to their lowest since his return to power, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.
“You can expect some thousands of bags of Brazilian coffee that were sitting in bonded warehouses to start moving quickly to US roasters,” said commodities analyst Judith Ganes, president of J. Ganes Consulting.
Bonded warehouses are storage facilities where importers can leave products without paying import duties.
Several importers stored products in those facilities after the heavy Brazilian tariffs were announced, while they waited for an eventual revision of the duties.
“The decision (to lift Brazil tariffs) shows the effectiveness of the trade negotiations,” said Brazilian beef industry group ABIEC, adding that it will continue to work to increase its share in the market.
Mr Trump’s executive order on Nov 20 did not mention the actions against the Brazilian authorities involved in the prosecution and conviction of Bolsonaro for plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election.
Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and his wife were sanctioned through the Global Magnitsky Act, while other justices and some ministers had their US visas revoked.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Nov 20 he was glad that the 40 per cent tariff has been removed. REUTERS
