Senate Votes to Repeal Trump’s Brazil Tariffs as Bipartisan Rift Widens

In a rare display of bipartisan defiance, the U.S. Senate voted on Tuesday to repeal President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, marking a symbolic challenge to his hardline trade policies. The 52–48 vote saw five Republican senators join Democrats in supporting the repeal — a sign of growing unease within parts of the GOP over the economic fallout of Trump’s protectionist agenda.

The measure, spearheaded by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), passed with the support of Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski (AK), Susan Collins (ME), Mitch McConnell (KY), Rand Paul (KY), and Thom Tillis (NC). Despite the narrow bipartisan majority, the effort faces steep odds of becoming law. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has indicated he will not bring the legislation to the floor, and Trump is unlikely to sign it should it reach his desk.

“This vote sends a message that Congress will not stand by while American businesses and consumers pay the price for politically motivated trade wars,” Kaine said after the vote. “We need a trade policy that builds partnerships, not walls.”

A Growing Pattern of Pushback

This is the third time Democrats have attempted to roll back Trump’s tariff measures. Previous votes sought to overturn tariffs on Canada and a separate 10% blanket tariff applied to multiple trading partners. The repeal effort targeting Canada passed the Senate earlier this year with similar Republican support, while the broader tariff repeal failed when McConnell abstained.

Tuesday’s vote represents the strongest bipartisan push yet against Trump’s trade agenda — an agenda that has long been central to his “America First” economic platform.

Tariffs Strain U.S.–Brazil Relations

At the heart of the debate are steep import duties imposed on Brazilian goods. Brazil, one of the world’s largest exporters of beef, ethanol, and metals, was hit particularly hard when Trump raised tariffs on its exports. Initially, the rate stood at 10%, but by midyear, the figure climbed to 40%, bringing the total duty to roughly 50% on key Brazilian products.

Trump justified the move as retaliation against what he described as political persecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting to overturn the 2022 election results. Trump claimed that Brazil’s judiciary, under Justice Alexandre de Moraes, had orchestrated a “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro.

In response, the Trump administration invoked the Magnitsky Act to sanction de Moraes and several other top Brazilian officials, including Solicitor-General Jorge Messias. Their U.S. visas were revoked, and financial restrictions were imposed.

Diplomatic Overtures Amid Tension

Despite the punitive measures, diplomatic communication between Washington and Brasília has not completely broken down. Earlier this month, Trump announced that he had a “positive” conversation with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva about potential tariff relief.

According to statements from both governments, the two leaders spoke for approximately 30 minutes and agreed to meet in person “soon.” Lula proposed a bilateral meeting during the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia and expressed willingness to travel to Washington.

Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad later described the exchange as “productive,” noting that both sides appeared open to improving trade relations. Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira were also present during the call.

Trump, for his part, told reporters that he looked forward to a future meeting with Lula, citing “excellent chemistry” between them.

Economic Stakes for Brazil

Brazil’s business community has been closely monitoring the Senate’s actions and the evolving tone between the two governments. For months, the country’s exporters have faced some of the highest U.S. tariffs in decades, putting pressure on agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

Brazilian officials argue that the trade restrictions have unfairly punished the nation’s economy for internal political events. Lula raised the issue at the United Nations General Assembly, indirectly criticizing Washington’s “unilateral and arbitrary” actions against Brazil’s institutions.

Trump’s Broader Trade Strategy

While facing pressure at home, Trump continues to pursue new trade arrangements abroad. During his visit to Asia this week, he announced that the U.S. had reached a preliminary trade agreement with South Korea — another key partner affected by tariff disputes.

“We reached a deal,” Trump told reporters. “We resolved a number of issues and came to a strong understanding on trade.”

According to South Korean officials, the agreement includes a reduction in tariffs on South Korean imports from 25% to 15%, a relief that could significantly benefit major automakers such as Hyundai and Kia. The White House described the talks as “constructive,” suggesting more announcements could follow.

A Symbolic but Telling Vote

Although the Senate’s repeal of the Brazil tariffs is unlikely to survive the legislative process, the vote reflects shifting political dynamics. More Republicans are beginning to question the economic costs of protectionist trade policies — particularly as inflation, global competition, and diplomatic frictions continue to mount.

For now, Trump’s trade doctrine remains intact. But as bipartisan dissent grows, Congress may be signaling that the era of sweeping executive trade actions without consultation could soon be coming to an end.