The sweeping tariffs imposed by the US administration could produce significant benefits for the Brazilian economy, in strengthening its position as a key player in global trade. This is according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company.
Historically, Brazil has been a significant agricultural exporter, particularly in commodities such as soybeans, coffee, and sugar. As US tariffs seek to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign goods, especially from markets such as China, and the EU, Brazil’s agricultural sector stands to gain from an increased demand for its products. With retaliatory tariffs from China, countered by further hikes in US tariffs, Brazil could benefit by becoming a more prominent player in the global commodity market.
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Previous retaliatory tariffs imposed by China in June 2018 on US agricultural goods significantly undermined one of the US’s largest exports, namely soybeans. The level of US export decline this caused is starkly illustrated by the 14.7% reduction in the area dedicated to soybean cultivation in the U.S. when comparing 2018 to 2019, according to GlobalData’s crop area production and yield database accessed in March 2025.
US farmers are struggling to maintain their market position against international competitors, with reports that large shipments of Brazilian soybeans have been ordered by Chinese importers this year. William Gould, consumer analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The repercussions of US tariffs extend well beyond the immediate economic impacts, such as product pricing, and potentially signal a longer term realignment in global trading relationships, in an increasingly volatile environment.”
A significant portion of Brazilian consumers express concern about the impact of import tariffs and trade wars on product prices, according to GlobalData’s quarter one 2025 consumer survey. Among different generational cohorts, 25% of Gen Z, 23% of Gen Y, 22% of Gen X, and 18% of boomers indicated that they are extremely concerned about these factors, whilst only 6% of Gen Z, and 10% of Boomers reported being not concerned.
The survey also highlighted that 40% of respondents across generations are quite concerned, with an additional 33% expressing slight concern. As Brazil positions itself to benefit from increased agricultural exports, heightened concern among younger generations about market pricing suggests that businesses should prioritize transparency in their communication about how trade policies could affect their product pricing.
Gould adds, “Brands operating in or exporting to Brazil should consider aligning their strategies to address Brazilian consumer concerns while capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the current trading dynamics. Brazil’s emergence as a potential beneficiary of US tariff trading policies presents a compelling case for brands and countries to reassess their positions in the global market. The historical context of Brazil’s agricultural exports, coupled with the recent shift in the US trading relationship with China, creates a fertile ground for the country’s economic growth and increased competitiveness on the global stage.”
