Brazil: 10% Baseline Rate on Steel, Aircraft, and Agricultural Goods
Brazil received the baseline 10% IEEPA reciprocal tariff rate effective April 5, 2025. Brazil is Latin America’s largest economy and one of the United States’ most significant trading partners in the Western Hemisphere. Its export profile spans commodities, manufactured goods, and high-value industrial products.
While 10% is the lowest IEEPA rate tier, Brazil’s large export volume to the U.S. means the absolute value of IEEPA duties paid by U.S. importers of Brazilian goods can be significant.
Brazil’s Key Export Categories to the U.S.
Brazil’s U.S. exports span primary commodities and manufactured goods:
- Aircraft and aerospace components: Embraer regional jets and components are a major Brazilian export
- Steel and iron products: Brazilian flat-rolled steel and semi-finished products
- Coffee: Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer and exporter
- Orange juice: Brazil dominates global orange juice production
- Footwear: Brazilian-manufactured shoes, particularly for outdoor and casual markets
- Soybeans and agricultural products: Though many agricultural imports face separate tariff classifications
- Chemicals: Specialty chemicals and petrochemicals
Key Product Categories
Aircraft (Chapter 88): Embraer regional jets (E-Jets series) imported by U.S. regional airlines are a significant Brazilian export. The 10% IEEPA rate applied to these high-value aircraft imports.
Steel Products (Chapter 72–73): Brazilian flat-rolled steel, slabs, and structural products imported by U.S. steel service centers and manufacturers. Note: Section 232 steel tariffs (25%) apply separately to steel from Brazil and are NOT refundable through CAPE.
Coffee (Chapter 9): Green and roasted coffee imported by U.S. coffee roasters and distributors. Brazil is by far the world’s largest coffee exporter.
Footwear (Chapter 64): Brazilian footwear, particularly casual and outdoor shoes, imported by U.S. retailers and brands.
Orange Juice (Chapter 20): Frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) and not-from-concentrate (NFC) juice from Brazilian processors.
Important Note on Section 232
Brazilian steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. have also been subject to Section 232 tariffs (25% on steel, 10% on aluminum in recent years). Section 232 tariffs are NOT refundable through CAPE — only the IEEPA 10% reciprocal component is refundable for Brazilian goods.
No FTA with the United States
The United States does not have a free trade agreement with Brazil. Brazilian-origin goods with IEEPA duties assessed between April 5, 2025 and February 20, 2026 are potentially eligible for CAPE refund.
Estimating Your Brazil Refund
For a coffee importer that brought in $5,000,000 in Brazilian goods during the IEEPA window:
- Estimated duty refund: $500,000 (10% × $5,000,000)
- Estimated interest (~5%): $25,000
- Estimated total: $525,000
Use the calculator above to estimate based on your actual import value.