Trump Lifts 40% Tariffs On Brazilian Food Imports
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
President Donald Trump is taking another swing at easing food inflation, lifting the 40% tariffs on several major Brazilian imports including coffee, beef, fruits and cocoa. The change applies to shipments arriving after November 13, and it may even trigger refunds for tariffs already collected.
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Trump said he made the move after seeing progress in talks with Brazil and hearing from advisers who argued that the tariffs were adding unnecessary pressure to grocery prices. It follows a string of similar rollbacks as the administration tries to give Americans some relief at the supermarket, where prices have stayed stubbornly high.
Brazil had been hit with tariffs as steep as 50% for months. Trump originally raised them beyond his standard 10% across-the-board tariff to push back against Brazil's prosecution of former president and Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro. Scrapping those higher duties now marks a clear shift in strategy.
The U.S. relies heavily on Brazil for staples like coffee and beef, so reducing these tariffs could help cool food costs faster.The question now is how quickly grocers and suppliers pass those savings through to shoppers.