America First: tariffs change but not too much. The Eduardo Effect is still on
Tariffs on Brazil and the “Eduardo Effect” – Updated Summary
By Hotspotnews November 21, 2025
The 50% tariff package that Donald Trump imposed on Brazil in July–August 2025 (10% “reciprocal” rate + 40% additional punitive rate) remains in force on the overwhelming majority of Brazilian exports.
On November 20, 2025, Trump signed a limited exemption that only covers agricultural products directly linked to U.S. grocery inflation: fresh beef, coffee, cocoa, orange juice, certain fruits, and a handful of other food items. These items have now returned to 0% or the normal low pre-tariff rates.
Everything else continues to face the full 50% tariff:
– Machinery and electronics
– Vehicles and auto parts
– Chemicals and plastics
– Footwear and textiles
– Aircraft parts (Embraer)
– Most manufactured and industrial goods
Steel (25%) and aluminum (10%) remain under the separate Section 232 national-security tariffs (with quotas).
In total, 55–60% of the value of Brazil’s exports to the United States is still subject to these heavy duties.
The “Eduardo Effect” is still fully active:
– Global Magnitsky sanctions on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and his wife have not been lifted.
– Visa bans on Brazilian judges and prosecutors remain in place.
– Eduardo Bolsonaro and the pro-Bolsonaro lobby in Florida continue pushing for new Magnitsky designations (they are explicitly calling for Justice Gilmar Mendes and others to be added next).
– Trump has repeatedly stated (latest public remark November 18) that any broader tariff relief is conditional on Brazil “leaving Jair Bolsonaro alone” and granting amnesty to those convicted for the January 8, 2023, riot and attempted coup.
– The White House presented the agricultural exemption as a unilateral American measure to lower domestic food prices, not as a concession to President Lula’s government.
Bottom line: American consumers got cheaper steak and coffee because grocery prices were hurting Trump’s approval numbers. The political and economic pressure campaign orchestrated with heavy involvement from Eduardo Bolsonaro, however, is still very much on and shows no signs of being rolled back.
