In a significant move for international trade, the United States has rolled back additional import tariffs on key Brazilian agricultural products, a decision hailed by Brazil's leadership as a major diplomatic victory.
A Victory for Brazilian Agribusiness
Brazil's Vice President and Trade Minister, Geraldo Alckmin, announced on Friday, 21 November 2025, that US President Donald Trump's order to remove the extra duties marks significant progress. The decision affects crucial exports such as coffee, fruit, and beef.
Alckmin, who led the negotiations alongside Brazilian diplomats and business leaders, confirmed that while this is a positive step, the country will continue to push for further exemptions. We want to exclude more products and move forward in the negotiation, he told journalists in the capital, Brasilia.
Historic Win for Coffee Exporters
The decision was met with celebration from Brazil's powerful coffee sector. Cecafé, the nation's coffee exporters council, called the previous tariff hike a complete loss of competitiveness.
In an official statement, the council celebrated the reversal as a historic victory for the entire coffee agribusiness production chain, crediting months of intense work to represent the interests of Brazilian coffee. Before the tariffs, Brazil, as the world's top coffee producer, supplied approximately 30% of the American coffee market.
Background and Future Talks
The tariff relief comes after the US leader had imposed additional import taxes, citing unfair trade practices and the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The US had run a $6.8 billion trade surplus with Brazil in the previous year.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva praised the frank dialogue with Trump, posting on X that the removal of the 40% tariff was a victory for dialogue, diplomacy and common sense. He expressed pleasure with the decision and indicated that negotiations to further reduce tariffs are ongoing.
