United States: 50% customs duties aimed at Brazilian products

Customs duties of 50% provided for Brazilian products entered into force on Wednesday at 12 h 01 (06 h 01 hour in Switzerland), seven days after the signing of the decree by the American president, Donald Trump.

While Brazil should not initially be affected by customs duties beyond the 10% floor now applying on a large part of the products imported into the United States, Donald Trump announced his intention to impose a surcharge of 50%, the highest applied to a particular country.

The American president criticizes the Brazilian justice for continuing ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, accused of an attempted coup after his defeat during the presidential election of 2022.

A “witch hunt”

These prosecution, qualified by Donald Trump as “witch hunt”, also led to American sanctions against one of the judges of the Brazilian Supreme Court, Alexandre de Moraes.

Jair Bolsonaro was also under house arrest on Monday for expressed himself on social networks despite a ban linked to his current trial.

If customs duties have aroused a strong reaction from Brasilia, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva denouncing an attack on the “sovereignty” of his country, the Brazilian capital has put the impact of the surcharge into perspective.

Exemptions for several hundred products

Donald Trump’s decree indeed provides exemptions for several hundred products, from nuts to energy through the aeronautical industry or orange juice.

Some important sectors, such as coffee, are however applying the surcharge of 50%.

According to the Brazilian government, only 36% of the country’s exports to the United States will really be affected by these taxes.

AFP

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