Brazilian steel exports to the United States could soon face a crippling 100% import tariff, according to Marco Polo Mello Lopes, executive president of the Brazilian Steel Institute (IABr).
Speaking in a televised interview from Rio de Janeiro, Lopes confirmed that the current U.S. tariff on Brazilian steel products is 50%, and warned that an additional 50% tariff has been announced, potentially bringing the total to 100%. However, he raised concerns about whether the tariffs would be cumulative or applied independently.
The new tariff is set to take effect on August 1, 2025, and applies to all Brazilian products, not just steel. The announcement comes at a sensitive time, as Brazil was reportedly working with U.S. authorities to re-negotiate trade quotas and mitigate existing tariffs, similar to the framework established during President Trump’s 2017 trade policy.
In the first half of 2025, Brazil exported 2.72 million metric tons (mt) of steel slabs to the U.S., with a total value of $1.5 billion. Exports of finished steel products during the same period were described as not significant in comparison.
Industry stakeholders warn that such a dramatic tariff increase could severely disrupt Brazilian steel exports and strain trade relations between the two countries.
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