File photo: CFP

By Brasil 247 - A decision by the US Supreme Court to strike down much of the tariff structure imposed by the US, has significantly altered global trade dynamics and positioned Brazil as the main beneficiary among Washington's major trading partners, according to calculations by Bloomberg Economics cited by Brasil 247.

The average tariff applied to Brazilian exports fell to 12.2%, a drop of 19 percentage points from the previous 31.2%, the report said. Among the largest US trade partners, Brazil registered the steepest average reduction following the judicial reversal.

The shift marks a sharp turnaround from last July, when the US administration raised tariffs on Brazilian products to levels that reached as high as 50%, making Brazil the most heavily taxed country by the US at the time. 

Following the Supreme Court setback, US announced plans to introduce a global baseline tariff of 10% and at one point mentioned the possibility of raising it to 15%. The White House formalized an executive order setting the rate at 10%.

On Thursday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated that an increase to 15% would occur only "when appropriate" and said he was seeking "continuity" in relations with countries that have signed trade agreements with Washington.

The impact of the policy revision has not been uniform. Argentina emerged among the countries facing a relatively worse position. Its products are now subject to an average tariff of 9.5%, up from 7.6% previously — an increase of 1.9 percentage points. Should the global rate rise to 15%, additional pressure could fall on partners still engaged in trade negotiations with the US.

Australia, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Japan also appear in a less favorable position compared with the period before the court ruling against US' tariff framework.

Lula is scheduled to travel to Washington in March for a meeting at the White House. Among the issues expected to be discussed are US tariffs on Brazilian steel and the potential reinstatement of a quota system previously adopted by the US. Brazil is the third-largest supplier of steel to the American market.

Despite the recent relief, uncertainty remains. Last year, the White House opened a Section 301 investigation into Brazil, a mechanism used to examine alleged unfair trade practices. The Brazilian government has rejected the accusations. On Friday, the White House reiterated that investigations remain ongoing.

(Reported by Brasil 247 on Feb 26, 2026)