GOP Senators Join Dems To Reject Trump’s Tariffs On Brazil
The Senate voted Tuesday to repeal President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, with five Republican senators siding with Democrats in what amounted to a symbolic rejection of the administration’s hardline trade stance.
The measure passed 52–48, though it is unlikely to move forward in the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has made clear he will not bring it to a vote. Even if it did, President Trump is almost certain to veto it.
The bill, spearheaded by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), was supported by Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Rand Paul (Ky.), and Thom Tillis (N.C.), who joined all Democrats in voting to repeal the tariffs.
This marks the third Democratic attempt to roll back Trump’s trade measures — and the strongest show of GOP support yet. Earlier this year, the Senate voted to repeal tariffs on Canada with similar Republican backing, while an effort to overturn Trump’s 10% blanket tariffs on imports failed after McConnell declined to vote.
Kaine argued that the tariffs have hurt American consumers and worsened inflation. Republican supporters framed their votes as an effort to “reset” relations with Brazil, a major U.S. trading partner.
Trump and Lula’s “Positive” Call
Earlier this month, President Trump held a 30-minute call with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, describing it as “positive” and “cordial.”
According to both governments, Lula asked Trump to lift the 40% tariff on Brazilian exports and ease restrictions on local governments. The two leaders discussed meeting in person during the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, with both expressing willingness to continue direct communication.
Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin confirmed that the conversation was “constructive,” and said both sides agreed to explore “mutually beneficial trade solutions.”
Trump said in August that he wanted to meet Lula in person after a brief exchange at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, calling the Brazilian leader “a strong negotiator” and saying they had “excellent chemistry.”
Background on the Tariffs
The tariffs, first imposed at 10% and later increased to 40%, were among the steepest trade penalties in the world. They targeted key Brazilian exports such as steel, ethanol, and agricultural products.
Trump said the move was in retaliation for political persecution against his ally former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting to overturn the 2022 election results.
The Trump administration also invoked the Magnitsky Act to sanction Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw Bolsonaro’s prosecution, and revoked visas for several top Brazilian officials.
Lula, in his recent U.N. General Assembly speech, criticized “unilateral economic punishments” — widely seen as a reference to Trump’s tariffs — without naming the United States directly.
Trump Announces Trade Breakthrough with South Korea
While the Senate was voting, President Trump, currently on a trip to Asia, announced that the U.S. had finalized a trade agreement with South Korea.
“We reached a deal. We did a lot of different things. Great session,” Trump told reporters. “We came to a conclusion on a lot of very different items.”
According to South Korean officials, the agreement includes a reduction of tariffs on Korean automobile imports from 25% to 15%, a major win for automakers Hyundai and Kia.
“We reached an agreement on details,” said Kim Yong-beom, chief of staff to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
The deal marks another step in Trump’s broader effort to restructure global trade relationships and secure more favorable terms for U.S. industries — even as his tougher policies on countries like Brazil remain a point of contention in Washington.