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Legislative bills

US Senate Passes Legislation Terminating National Emergency Declaration on Brazilian Imports

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The US Senate has voted 52-48 to pass legislation terminating the national emergency declaration to impose duties on Brazilian imports, dealing a significant blow to President Donald Trump's use of punitive economic measures against Brazil. The bipartisan bill, introduced by Senator Tim Kaine and Rand Paul, aims to end the tariffs imposed on Brazil under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The move comes as a response to President Trump's imposition of 10% and 40% tariffs on Brazil's imports, citing the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro as a threat to the US economy, national security, and foreign policy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US Senate has passed legislation terminating the national emergency declaration to impose duties on Brazilian imports by a vote of 52-48.
  • Five Republicans, including Senators Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul, joined Democrats in voting to end the emergency and tariffs.
  • The bipartisan bill was introduced by Senator Tim Kaine and Rand Paul, with Paul arguing that the tariffs are a tax being levied against the American people without the approval of the Senate, House of Representatives, or the Constitution.
  • President Trump had imposed a 10% baseline tariff on Brazil in April and an additional 40% tariff in July under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
  • Brazil has a trade surplus with the US, with $7 billion in goods and $23 billion in services traded annually.
  • Senator Tim Kaine questioned the national emergency declaration, pointing out that Brazil's prosecution of a disgraced politician does not pose a threat to the US economy, national security, or foreign policy.

Statistics:

  • The US Senate voted 52-48 to pass the legislation terminating the national emergency declaration.
  • Five Republicans joined Democrats in voting to end the emergency and tariffs.
  • President Trump imposed a 40% tariff on Brazil's imports in July under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
  • Brazil has a trade surplus with the US, with $7 billion in goods and $23 billion in services traded annually.
  • The tariffs imposed on Brazil under the national emergency declaration affected nearly every country.

Sources:

  • UPI, Oct. 29, 2023 - "US Senate passes bill terminating national emergency declaration on Brazilian imports"
  • Senate.gov - S.J. Res. 18, a bipartisan bill terminating the national emergency declaration
  • WhiteHouse.gov - International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)
  • BBC News - "Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro gets 27-year prison sentence" (September 2023)
  • US Census Bureau - Trade in Goods and Services, January 2023 to June 2023
  • US Census Bureau - Trade in Goods and Services, July 2022 to December 2022

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