United States 25 per cent tariff on selected Brazilian commodities

ON 16 JULY, THE UNITED STATES OFFICE OF THE TRADE REPRESENTATIVE (USTR) STATED ON 15 JULY LOCAL TIME THAT, UNDER THE INSTRUCTIONS OF UNITED STATES PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE, GREER, HAD TAKEN FINAL ACTION TO IMPOSE A 25 PER CENT TARIFF ON SOME BRAZILIAN COMMODITIES UNDER SECTION 301 OF THE TRADE ACT 1974. THIS DECISION STEMS FROM A YEAR-LONG SURVEY OF THE USTR. THE SURVEY FOUND THAT PART OF THE MEASURES TAKEN BY BRAZIL IN THE AREAS OF DIGITAL TRADE AND ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SERVICES, UNFAIR PREFERENTIAL TARIFFS, ANTI-CORRUPTION LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVENTIONS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION, ETHANOL MARKET ACCESS AND ILLEGAL DEFORESTATION WERE “UNREASONABLE PRACTICES”, PLACING A BURDEN OR RESTRICTION ON THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES OF UNITED STATES FARMERS, WORKERS, INNOVATIVE ENTERPRISES AND EXPORTERS. “DESPITE EXTENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND BRAZIL OVER THE PAST YEAR, THESE ISSUES REMAIN UNRESOLVED. THE UNITED STATES REMAINS READY TO CONTINUE ITS NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRAZIL TO FACILITATE THE RESOLUTION OF THE LONG-STANDING PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN THIS SURVEY.” THE UNITED STATES WILL EXEMPT BRAZILIAN BEEF AND COFFEE FROM 25 PER CENT OF NEW TARIFFS ON BRAZILIAN COMMODITIES. KIM XIAN