Trump’s hefty tariff on Brazil expected to push the country towards China
Al Jazeera6 days
China 'Ready to Work With Brazil' as US Tariff Deadline Looms
Above: Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, speaks to journalists on June 23, 2025. Image copyright: Johannes Neudecker/picture alliance/Getty Images
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
In general, Trump's tariffs risk the U.S. reputation as a reliable trade partner in the medium to long term in exchange for short-term benefits. However, his punitive 50% tariff on Brazil is already pushing this longtime U.S. friend further towards China. As Trump departs from his usual rationale to weaponize U.S. trade policy for political reasons, he is sending a dire message to the world that the U.S. is no longer a trustworthy partner.
Pro-Trump narrative
China is using Brazil as mere cannon fodder in its attempt to challenge the status of the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency and the primary currency used in international trade. Make no mistake, Trump's tariffs are also in place to help clean up the geopolitical mess that the Biden administration's weak foreign policy has left. Regardless of what may take place in the short term, Brazil will eventually side with the U.S., not China.