Trade Takes A Turn: President Trump announces 50% tariffs on Brazil

President Trump made a major announcement late yesterday on trade with Brazil. He is threatening 50 percent tariffs on all imports. While his message was largely around political events there, he warned that the trade imbalance has gone on long enough.

President Trump told Brazil’s president that new tariffs rates will begin August 1st. He is also calling on U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to open an investigation into unfair trade practices.

Brazil is a major trading partner, and some worry that the President’s trade policy might cause retaliation. However, Greer argues that tariffs give the U.S. the upper hand.

Related Stories
Lower shipping costs alone will not restore export competitiveness.
The USDA’s upcoming reports will drop on Tuesday afternoon, giving the trade real results on acreage shifts, drought concerns, and ongoing trade tensions, adding uncertainty for U.S. farmers.
Expanded access could boost demand for U.S. exports.
Brazil logistics issues may support U.S. soybean demand.
Energy risks could reshape global ag trade flows.
The ag trade deficit is narrowing, but export competition remains strong.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Producers may need to prepare for margin pressure in livestock feeding, while dairy farmers could benefit from stronger product demand.
Farmers await concrete trade commitments from China. Until then, export prospects for soybeans, corn, and sorghum remain uncertain against strong South American competition.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today issued a new memorandum to modernize and strengthen America’s wildfire prevention and response system.
Understanding the Big, Beautiful Bill’s complex impact on SNAP benefits – that’s the topic of today’s Firm to Farm blog post by RFD-TV’s legal expert, Roger McEowen.
National Sorghum Producers CEO Tim Lust said farmers face a challenging year with strong supply, murky trade conditions, and uncertain access to their largest market: China.
RFD-TV Markets Expert Tony St. James breaks down the state of agribusiness and harvest progress across the U.S. for the week of Monday, September 15, 2025.