In a year marked by tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump government, Brazilian exports to the United States fell 6.6% in 2025, totaling US$37.716 billion, compared to US$40.368 billion recorded in 2024. In the opposite direction, imports of North American products grew 11.3% last year, reaching US$45.246 billion, compared to US$40.652 billion in the year previous.
With the drop in exports and the rise in imports, Brazil ended 2025 with a deficit of US$7.530 billion in its trade balance with the United States. The numbers were released this Tuesday (6) by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (Mdic).
The result reflects the effects of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s government. In November, the North American president announced the withdrawal of the additional 40% tariff applied to a series of Brazilian products. Even so, according to Mdic’s own calculations, 22% of Brazil’s exports to the United States, equivalent to US$8.9 billion, remain subject to tariffs established in July.
This group includes both products that only pay the 40% surcharge and those that accumulate the extra fee with the base rate of 10%. Another 15% of exports, equivalent to US$6.2 billion, remain subject to only the 10% tariff.
A total of 27%, around US$10.9 billion, is affected by Section 232 tariffs, which apply to imports that the United States considers a threat to national security. Only 36% of Brazilian sales to the North American market are free of additional charges.
December
Even after the partial removal of tariffs, Brazilian exports to the United States fell 7.2% in December, totaling US$3.449 billion, compared to US$3.717 billion in the same month of 2024. It was the fifth consecutive drop in sales to the North American market since the imposition of the 50% surcharge announced in July by the Trump administration.
Imports of American products, in turn, fell 1.5% in December in the annual comparison.
Negotiations
In a press conference, the vice-president and minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, stated that the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva maintains the strategy of negotiation and dialogue with Washington. According to him, the conversations have already resulted in a reduction in the number of products affected by the tariff.
“The reduction work continues,” he stated.
Alckmin also highlighted that the government seeks to improve conditions for the 22% of the export basket still affected by tariffs. He highlighted the good relations between Lula and Trump.
“Regarding the trade issue, President Lula has a good relationship with President Trump and can advance even further. We can have a win-win, both on the tariff and non-tariff issues, in rare earths, data centers. We can have the approval of Redata [regime especial para centros de dados]which stimulates investments. Brazil has abundant and renewable energy”, added Alckmin.
China and European Union
While sales to the United States declined, Brazilian trade with other partners advanced in 2025. Exports to China grew 6%, totaling US$ 100.021 billion, compared to US$ 94.372 billion in 2024. Imports of Chinese products rose 11.5%, to US$ 70.930 billion, resulting in a surplus of US$ 29.091 billion for Brazil.
Exports to the European Union increased 3.2% last year, totaling US$49.810 billion. The bloc’s imports grew 6.4%, to US$50.290 billion, which generated a deficit of US$480 million. In December alone, a month marked by the postponement of the signing of the Mercosur–European Union agreement, Brazilian exports to the bloc increased by 39% compared to the same month in 2024.
