R-CALF USA urges comments on Brazil tariff proposal

The U.S. Trade Representative announced June 1 that the U.S. had proposed to implement a 25 percent tariff on most goods imported from Brazil in response to actions that are “unreasonable” and “burden or restrict U.S. commerce.”

The tariffs would be implemented under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Written comments on this recommendation are due July 1, 2026.

The Section 301 investigation will address what the U.S Ambassador Jamieson Greer called longstanding and pervasive concerns with Brazil’s trade policy. While he and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have had several constructive meetings, they continue to have substantial differences in resolving issues.

According to R-CALF USA, the USTR plans to exempt some products including beef from the proposed 25 percent tariff.

Specifically bovine carcasses, meat cuts, high quality meat cuts, offal, tongues and livers would be exempt, said R-CALF USA.

The group said that the USTR proposes to exempt Brazilian beef from the proposed tariff either because it believes:

• tariffs on Brazilian beef could lead to the unavailability of domestic supply; or
• tariffs on Brazilian beef could cause economy-wide disruptions; or
• the U.S. cannot produce beef in sufficient quantities or obtain sufficient beef from other sources; or
• tariffs on Brazilian beef may not contribute substantially to the elimination of those practices found to be unreasonable and burden or restrict U.S. commerce.

R-CALF USA urges cattle producers and consumers to submit comments on or before July 1, 2026, to oppose the exemption of beef from the proposed 25 percent tariff on other Brazilian products.

You can submit your comments through the online USTR portal at: https://comments.ustr.gov/​s/​. The docket number for comments is USTR-2026-0331.

You can review the entire notice, including the opportunity to appear at the USTR hearing here: Federal Register :: Notice of Determination and Request for Comments Concerning Action Pursuant to Section 301: Brazil’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Digital Trade and Electronic Payment Services; Unfair, Preferential Tariffs; Anti-Corruption Enforcement; Intellectual Property Protection; Ethanol Market Access; and Illegal Deforestation

Trump used the same statute to impose sweeping tariffs ​on Chinese goods during his first term, said Reuters.

The USTR has several other open Section 301 investigations that are expected to lead to new duties, reported Reuters.

The U.S. is looking into excess ⁠industrial capacity in China and 15 other trading partners, and is also investigating enforcement of forced labor bans in 60 countries.

USTR began investigating Vietnam’s intellectual property practices in Friday, said Reuters.

According to Reuters, the USTR said products exempted from the proposed 25 percent tariffs included many fruits and nuts, crude oil and petroleum products, pharmaceutical compounds, organic chemicals and fertilizers.

These are in addition to beef, coffee, rare earths, certain ​other metals and ores and Brazilian aircraft and aircraft parts.