The United States imposes a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports, severely impacting seafood export trade
This has triggered global market concerns and potential chain reactions for commodities such as orange juice, beef, coffee, sugar, and seafood.
These trade measures are sounding alarms in export-dependent industries and among US importers, with market participants indicating that the impact could be widespread.
Brazil will respond to the newly announced US export tariffs with reciprocal measures.
The newly imposed 50% tariff could severely disrupt Brazil's seafood exports to the US, as Brazil is among the top 20 countries exporting to the United States.
According to Expana's foreign trade data platform, Brazil exported nearly 84 million pounds of seafood to the US in 2024, valued at approximately $229 million, ranking 12th by volume and 19th by value.
Tilapia, red snapper, and rock lobster are the main seafood products Brazil exports to the US.
In the past five years, Brazil has provided an average of 17% of warm-water lobster to the US, but its share has declined from 24% in 2020-2021 to 12% in 2023-2024.
Other major seafood suppliers to the US, such as the Bahamas, Honduras, and Nicaragua, may also face high tariffs in the future, though rates are expected to be lower than those for Brazil.
Brazil exports grouper, snapper (both fresh and frozen), and swordfish to the US.
The 50% tariff could render these products unavailable in the US, with reduced supply inevitably driving price increases.
Trump's move immediately prompted a response from Brazil's tilapia industry association Peixe BR, which called for immediate negotiations with the US. While China, the country's largest competitor, is also subject to similar tariffs, another competitor, Colombia, faces a 10% tariff.