Trump's tariff war is changing Brazil's trade landscape.
According to a report by the Hong Kong South China Morning Post on July 9th, latest data from the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce shows that the share of US exports in Brazil dropped to 9.4% in the first half of 2026, reaching the lowest level since 1997. At the same time, China's share increased to 31.5%, further expanding its leading position as Brazil's largest trading partner.
Data shows that from January to June this year, Brazil's exports to the United States decreased by 13% year-on-year, to $17.4 billion; while exports to China increased by 21.9% year-on-year. During the same period, Brazil's total trade with the United States decreased by 12.8%, to $36.4 billion.
June 4, 2026, at Terminal No. 65 in Lianyungang Port, Jiangsu Province, soybeans imported from Brazil were unloading and transshipping. IC Photo
While this change is taking place, the United States is considering imposing an additional 25% tariff on Brazilian goods. The U.S. Trade Representative Office recently held a hearing related to this issue, and Brazil has indicated that it will take countermeasures against the U.S. tariff measures.
As trade relations with the United States cool down, China's position as Brazil's largest export market has further improved. According to data from the Brazilian Export Investment Promotion Agency ApexBrasil, China has become the largest export market for 14 states in Brazil. Twenty years ago, the United States held this position, with 17 states considering the US as their biggest market. Today, only six states still do so.
As trade tensions between the United States and Brazil intensify, tariff measures seem to be driving Brazilian exporters to become more "de-Americanized" and strengthen their connections with the Chinese market.
Faced with U.S. tariff pressures, Brazilian companies are also beginning to seek alternative markets. Reports indicate that 72% of the companies that received assistance from ApexBrasil have already opened at least one new overseas market after the implementation of the tariff measures.
Brazilian President Lula mentioned the threat of U.S. tariffs in June, saying: "If you don't want to buy from me, I will sell to others. We won't complain about that. If they don't want to invest here, we will look for others."
