US Senate decides that Trump’s tariff on Brazil is illegal
Vance also heard criticism of the decision to import meat from Argentina, recently announced by Trump, given the rise in product prices in supermarkets caused by tariffs on meat from Brazil. Despite the vice president’s pleas, Republicans Rand Paul, Thom Tillis, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell joined the Democrats.
On the website Politico, Republican Rand Paul stated that there are at least ten farm states that have been severely affected by Trump’s tariff policy, and that, therefore, there are at least 20 Republican senators who should question “this bad public policy”.
“China is not buying any soybeans from us this year. The tariff war with China led to this. And they (Republican senators) don’t have the courage because the president is a Republican. And, frankly, they are scared. They are afraid that he will do to them what he is trying to do to me. What a shame. It would be easier if there were other people willing to stand up and oppose bad policies,” said Senator Rand Paul, a Republican historically averse to taxation, who has faced attacks from Trump for taking a stance a few days ago. contrary to the White House.
In a trade war with the USA, China started to buy soybeans only from Brazil and Argentina, as a way of putting pressure on the Trump administration.
His Republican colleague Thom Tillis said earlier today that he was considering helping to bring down taxes on Brazil. “I have had great concern about Brazil in particular, as we have a trade surplus,” he said. Tillis even received a delegation of Brazilian senators who came to Washington at the end of July, even before the tariff came into force, to express concern about the situation.
Tillis stated that he did not see the justification — Bolsonaro and big techs — as sufficient reasons for imposing the fees. Democratic leader Schumer called Trump’s justification “ridiculous.” The 40% tariff affects around 60% of the products that Brazil exports to the USA, including coffee and meat, which has put pressure on the country’s inflation rates.
