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US corn and ethanol groups back 25% tariff on select Brazilian imports
The 25% duty takes effect July 22, after a yearlong Section 301 investigation by the USTR into Brazil’s trade practices.
US corn and ethanol industry groups in the United States applauded a 25% tariff on certain imports from Brazil that the Office of the US Trade Representative said were tied to unfair trade practices. The USTR said the tariffs, first proposed in June, will take effect July 22.
The tariff order includes exemptions for some goods that are not produced in the US or that officials worry could disrupt supply chains, such as coffee, beef, oranges and orange juice, and aircraft components. In its announcement, the USTR pointed to unresolved policy issues from a yearlong Section 301 investigation that included testimony from agriculture and biofuels industry groups.
The USTR also cited developments in ethanol trade, saying imports of US ethanol into Brazil have generally declined since Brazil reinstated its tariff on ethanol. It said US exports to Brazil totaled $96 million in 2025, down 87.0% from the 2018 peak of $761 million.
Industry leaders said the move is meant to address what they described as an imbalance in ethanol treatment between the two countries. Jed Bower of the National Corn Growers Association said the investigation and tariffs were steps taken on behalf of corn growers, while Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said the decision marks a step toward repairing damage caused by what the group characterized as restrictions on US ethanol imports over the past decade.
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