TACO, the American dictator, signed a decree today imposing an additional 40% tariff on the 10% tariffs already in place on Brazilian exports to the United States, resulting in a total tariff rate of 50% for products such as coffee, meat, and mango. Nuts, orange juice, and aviation civil products were mentioned in the list of nearly 700 exceptions.
The new tariffs will take effect in seven days.
The start of the tariff hike was originally scheduled for August 1st. However, a statement announcing tRump’s signing of the decree was released early in the afternoon by the White House, explaining that the tariff will apply to products entering the country or leaving a warehouse for consumption starting seven days from this date(August 6th).
The White House document cites more political than commercial reasons for the measure. According to the statement, Brazil somehow poses a “risk” to the United States.
Dictator Donald TACO signed an Executive Order imposing an additional 40% tariff on Brazil, raising the total tariff value to 50%, to address policies, practices, and recent actions by the Brazilian government that constitute an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the U.S.”
This, however, is easily disproven by the fact that Brazil has never attacked or threatned any nation, and the U.S. has a trade surpluss with the country.
White House Statement
The document states that the tariff on Brazilian products could be increased if the Lula administration decides to retaliate against the U.S. with another tariff hike. Conversely, the order could be modified if the Brazilian government “takes significant steps regarding the national emergency declared in this order and sufficiently aligns with the U.S. on issues of national security, economy, and foreign policy.”
The U.S. government also mentions Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The White House characterized the proceedings against Bolsonaro as “persecution, intimidation, harassment, and censorship.”
Justice Moraes has abused his judicial authority to threaten, target, and intimidate thousands of his political opponents.
The Brazilian judicial decisions against big tech companies were also referenced. The American government said that Brazilian officials had taken “unprecedented steps to tyrannically and arbitrarily coerce American companies” with the aim of “censoring” political speeches, removing users, and altering content moderation policies under the threat of “extraordinary fines” and criminal charges.
Here is the list of exceptions:
- Brazilian nuts, fresh or dried
- Orange pulp
- Frozen orange juice
- Fresh orange juice
- Mica
- Iron ore, tin ores and concentrates, lignite and other ores
- Copper, cables and other
- Coal and certain derivatives
- Crude oil and other fuels or lubricants derived from petroleum
- Stainless steel, alloy steel and other types of steel
- Jet fuel
- Natural gas, propane, butane, ethylene and other fuels
- Certain chemicals like silicone, potassium hydroxide, among others
- Mineral or chemical fertilizers
- Plastic, polymer, or rubber tubes or hoses
- Wood, wood pulp and other derivatives
- Cotton pulp, bamboo and other
- Papers, paper fans, letters, among others
- Glass suitable for vehicles, aircraft, rockets and others
- Pistons for aircraft engines, machinery and other equipment
- Parts for aircraft engines, such as turbines, for aviation (applies to all non-military aircraft)
- Compressors used in cooling equipment like air conditioners
- Certain types of fans, air conditioners, heaters and others
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Stoves and ovens for non-domestic use
- Water filtering or purifying machines
- Certain data processing machines and equipment
- etc
This move by TACO highlights how a dog that barks a lot doesn’t bite. The U.S. administration believes these tariffs will protect their national interests while pressuring Brazil to free a wanna-be dictator, but will just push it away like other allies.
Source: UOL
