Brazil will not lose competitiveness with the new 10% global tariff announced by United States President Donald Trumpsaid this Friday (20) the acting president and minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services.
As the tax will apply to all exporting countries, Brazil, highlighted Alckmin, remains on equal terms in the North American market.
The statement was made after United States Supreme Court decision that ruled tariffs previously imposed by President Donald Trump illegal based on emergency powers. By six votes to three, the Court understood that the creation of tariffs is the prerogative of Congress, and not the Executive.
Court decision
The judgment annulled a relevant part of the so-called tariff, through which the Trump government had imposed a global tax rate of 10% and an additional surcharge of 40% on Brazilian products.totaling 50% in some cases.
For Alckmin, the decision is “very important” for Brazil and opens up space to expand trade exchanges.
“An avenue for more vibrant commerce has been opened,” he declared.
He highlighted that, at the height of the measures, 37% of Brazilian exports were being burdened, a percentage that fell to 22% at the end of last year, after diplomatic negotiations.
Trump reacted to the decision by announcing that he will seek new legal paths to maintain his tariff policy and confirmed the creation of a new global rate of 10%, based on other provisions of American trade legislation.
Sectors benefited
According to the vice president, the new tariff does not change Brazil’s relative position in trade with the USA.
“The 10% is global. We have not lost competitiveness”, stated Alckmin.
He highlighted that sectors such as machinery, engines, wood, ornamental stones, instant coffee and fruit can benefit from the reduction of previous barriers.
Alckmin also mentioned that strategic products, such as steel and aluminum, affected by Section 232 of American legislation, may still have legal consequences. Through Section 232 of the United States National Security Act, the country can impose tariffs on imports considered a threat to the economy.
The minister reinforced that Brazil is not among the countries that generate a trade deficit for the United States and defended the continuity of bilateral dialogue. “Negotiations continue,” he said.
Economic impact
Experts estimate that the removal of tariffs could favor the resumption of Brazilian exports and reduce inflationary pressures in the United States, by making imported products cheaper.
In 2025, Brazilian exports to the USA totaled US$37.7 billion, equivalent to 10.8% of the total sold by Brazil abroad. Reducing trade barriers can influence the flow of investments and the behavior of the dollar, with repercussions on the Brazilian economy.
Despite the legal setback, Trump signaled that he may open new trade investigations and structure tariffs through other legal instruments, keeping the policy of protecting American industry at the center of his economic strategy.
