US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday exempting tariffs on a broad catalog of products imported from Brazil, such as beef and other meat derivatives, tropical fruits such as bananas, pineapple and coconut; coffee and vegetables such as tomatoes, among others. The law reduces taxes with retroactive effect from November 13th.
The executive order will exempt a broad list of staple food products for the American basket from the 40% tariff that Trump imposed on Brazilian products last July, under the pretext that the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, convicted by the courts of attempted coup, posed an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”
The US president has undertaken a review of his trade policy after realizing, although he doesn’t admit it publicly, that the cost of living is influencing his political agenda. In recent weeks, the American media have published several surveys in which the cost of living is the main problem for families. The issue of affordability has become an important element of public debate following the victory of socialist Zohran Mamdani in the race for mayor of New York. Mamdani raised the flag of high prices as the main issue of his election campaign. The Democratic Party has since reiterated this message.
The White House has been studying measures to address this problem for weeks. Last week, the occupant of the Oval Office approved a reduction in tariffs on beef, coffee, bananas and other tropical fruits from other trading partners, but the executive order signed by Trump did not cover Brazil entirely.
In the decree approved this week, Trump eliminated duties on numerous food products from Argentina, El Salvador, Ecuador and Guatemala. The next day it extended the tariff exemption “to countries producing substantial volumes of agricultural products that are not grown or produced in sufficient quantities in the United States.”
The millionaire politician, who made his fortune speculating in New York real estate and Atlanta casinos, has withdrawn tariffs on coffee and tea; tropical fruit and fruit juices; cocoa and spices; bananas, oranges and tomatoes; beef; and additional fertilizers.
Republican president seeks to reduce grocery cart bill in week when families celebrate the holiday thanks (Thanksgiving), the country’s most popular holiday, as a symbol of its new political strategy. A day in which Americans gather with their loved ones around the table, following a tradition that requires turkey to be eaten for dinner together with other foods. For days, Trump has been emphasizing on his Truth social network that Thanksgiving dinner will cost less this year. Economists, however, assure that if it costs less it is because it contains fewer products.
Tariffs on Brazil, one of the world’s largest food producers, have led to higher prices in the United States. The executive order signed this Thursday by Trump represents a great relief for the Latin American country and an important support for Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has had several telephone conversations with Trump in search of an agreement, as well as having met him in person in Malaysia.
“On October 6, 2025, I participated in a telephone conversation with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, during which we agreed to begin negotiations to address concerns about the tariff bill,” Trump writes in the executive order. “These negotiations continue. I have also received additional information and recommendations from various officials who… argue that, in their opinion, certain agricultural imports from Brazil should no longer be subject to the tariff.” ad valorim more,” he continues.
The United States had imposed 50% tariffs on Brazil after Trump approved an additional 40% tariff on top of the general 10% tariff due to the Bolsonaro case.
