Senate Defies Trump, Votes to Scrap Brazil Tariffs
In a rare bipartisan rebuke of President Donald Trump’s trade policies, the U.S. Senate voted 52–48 on Tuesday to terminate the 50% tariffs imposed on Brazilian imports—marking the first legislative strike against the administration’s sweeping trade war .
Brazil Tariffs Spark Backlash
The tariffs, enacted under a presidential emergency declaration earlier this year, slapped steep duties on nearly all goods from Brazil—including coffee, steel, footwear, and orange juice—despite the U.S. running a $32 billion trade surplus with the South American nation in 2024 .
President Trump justified the move as a response to “unfair agricultural subsidies,” but critics argue the tariffs lack legal grounding and hurt American farmers, manufacturers, and consumers more than they pressure Brazil.
Republicans Break Ranks
Five Republican senators joined all Democrats in supporting the resolution to end the tariffs, signaling growing unease within the GOP over the president’s unilateral trade actions:
- Sen. Susan Collins (Maine)
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
- Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah)
- Sen. Ben Sasse (Nebraska)
- Sen. Thom Tillis (North Carolina)
“This isn’t about Brazil—it’s about who governs America,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), the resolution’s lead sponsor. “Trade authority belongs to Congress, not the executive branch.”
What the Tariffs Target
| Product Category | Tariff Rate | U.S. Imports (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 50% | $1.8 billion |
| Orange Juice | 50% | $1.2 billion |
| Steel & Iron | 50% | $950 million |
| Footwear | 50% | $720 million |
Next Steps in the Trade War Battle
Tuesday’s vote is just the opening salvo in a broader congressional pushback. The Senate plans to hold similar votes this week on Trump’s tariffs targeting:
- Canada – 25% duties on dairy, lumber, and aluminum
- Over 100 nations – A new “global baseline tariff” of 15% on all non-FTA partners
However, even if these resolutions pass the Senate, they face steep odds in the Republican-controlled House, where leadership has blocked similar measures in the past by altering procedural rules.
Economic Fallout at Home
U.S. businesses are already feeling the pinch. Florida orange juice bottlers report 12% price hikes. Nebraska beef exporters face retaliatory duties from Brazil. And small manufacturers relying on Brazilian steel say their margins have evaporated overnight.
“Tariffs are taxes on American families,” said Chad Whiteman, VP of Tax Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “There’s no winning a trade war that starts with your own grocery bill.”
White House Response
The Trump administration dismissed the Senate vote as “symbolic theater” and vowed to veto any resolution that reaches the president’s desk. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “The president will not back down from defending American workers against global exploitation.”
Yet with inflation ticking upward and key swing states like Florida and North Carolina feeling the economic strain, the political cost of these tariffs may be rising faster than their economic impact.
