Kaine, Schumer, Shaheen, & Wyden Announce Intent to Challenge Trump’s Tariffs on Brazil

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced their intent to file privileged legislation to challenge President Donald Trump’s tariffs on goods from Brazil in response to steps Brazil is taking to hold friend of Trump and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro accountable for attempting a coup. The additional tariffs announced by Trump will put the total Trump tariffs on Brazilian exports at 50 percent, raising costs for Americans on basic household goods.

In an executive order issued yesterday, Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose the tariffs. Any one senator can challenge the use of IEEPA with a privileged resolution, such as the one the lawmakers will file. That means the Senate will be required to vote on the legislation.

“President Trump has no interest in lowering costs for the American people. If he did, he would not be imposing tariffs and starting senseless trade wars,” said the senators. “We’re particularly concerned about these tariffs on Brazil—which are being put into place to get the Brazilian Supreme Court to stop its prosecution of Trump’s longtime friend Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president who is facing criminal charges for inciting a violent coup. This is certainly not what tariffs are intended to be used for, and they will raise prices for Americans. That’s why we’ll be introducing legislation to challenge these reckless tariffs against Brazil.”

Americans import more than $40 billion annually from Brazil, including nearly $2 billion’s worth of coffee. Trade between the U.S. and Brazil supports nearly 130,000 jobs in the U.S., and the U.S. actually has a trade surplus with Brazil. A trade war with Brazil would make life more expensive for Americans, harm both the American and Brazilian economies, and drive Brazil closer to China.

Last week, Kaine and Shaheen led their colleagues in sending a letter to Trump urging him to end his threats of tariffs on Brazil.

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