Trump's new tariff is expected to have a 36.5% impact on Brazilian agribusiness. Producer Rodrigo Pamponet, who grows grapes in the São Francisco Valley, has already put the North American market on the back burner. The farm began to concentrate sales in other markets, such as Europe and Argentina, given the loss of competitiveness caused by tariffs imposed by the United States on products coming from Brazil. ?? Do you have any reporting suggestions? Send to g1 "We used to export a lot to the USA. In 2024, the farm shipped around 50 pallets. Last year, this volume dropped to just six, just to complete an order. This year, the expectation is that my exports there will practically come to zero, unless American importers agree to absorb part of the additional cost of tariffs", reports the producer. The movement of the farm in the São Francisco Valley reflects the reaction of part of Brazilian agribusiness to the new commercial scenario. Starting next Tuesday (22), the 25% surcharge applied by the USA to Brazilian products that are outside the list of exceptions announced by Washington comes into force. Grapes from Rodrigo Pamponet's farm Credit: Rodrigo Pamponet In addition to the tariff already confirmed, the sector is monitoring the possibility of an additional charge of 12.5%, in another ongoing commercial investigation. If the measure is implemented, the total surcharge could reach 37.5% on affected Brazilian products. Among the agribusiness segments affected are the grape, egg, wood, rice and sugar chains. According to the Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation (CNA), the measure puts US$4.6 billion in Brazilian agribusiness exports under pressure. Also according to the confederation, around 36.5% of Brazilian agribusiness exports to the USA will be subject to an additional tariff of 25%, while 63.5% were preserved with the expansion of the list of exceptions. Redirecting exports is one of the main alternatives for sectors affected by tariffs imposed by Donald Trump's government. With the opening of new markets, Brazilian exports not only maintained strength, but also ended last year with a historic record of US$348.7 billion. According to an analysis by XP Macro Research, this result was possible because producers were able to redirect part of their exports to China and other markets, compensating for the reduction in sales to the USA. The producers' strategy Among fruits, grapes are the most relevant chain among those left off the US exemption list, according to an analysis by the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea). Brazilian grape exports to the USA were already losing ground after the previous round of tariffs, while Europe remained the main destination for Brazilian fruit. In practice, producers like Rodrigo Pamponet had already started this redirection. In fact, the producer reported to g1 that currently, around 70% of the production exported by the farm goes to the European Union and 28% to Argentina. The Argentine market gained space among producers due to geographic proximity and lower transportation costs. The reflection appears in foreign trade data: the volume of Brazilian grapes sent to the country went from 3,600 tons in 2024 to more than 8,000 tons in 2025. Meanwhile, US purchases declined. The country, which purchased 13,800 tons of Brazilian grapes in 2024, with revenues of US$41.5 million, reduced imports to 4,100 tons in 2025, equivalent to US$12.8 million. Ambassador says that Brazil rejects opening strategic sectors to avoid US tariffs Grape sector fears brake on investments Main hub for irrigated fruit growing in the country, the São Francisco Valley concentrates around 75% of national grape production and accounts for approximately 95% of Brazilian fruit exports. Culture plays a strategic role in the regional economy and is one of the main sources of revenue from exports. Although Europe remains the main destination for Brazilian grapes, the US market is considered strategic by producers due to the remuneration. According to researcher João Ricardo Lima, from Embrapa Semiárido, American buyers pay more for higher quality fruits. "The American market is important in terms of price. These grapes pay very well in the United States, more than in Europe. So, when this market is lost, the effect for the producer is greater", he states. The president of the Union of Rural Producers of Petrolina (SPR), Jailson Lira, states that the opening of new markets reduced part of the impact, but did not eliminate the sector's concerns. According to him, there is still "a lot of tension" between producers. One of the main concerns involves employment and income in the region. According to the union, the grape chain generates around 70 thousand direct and indirect jobs in the São Francisco Valley, and approximately half of the workforce is made up of women. Despite the uncertainties, the sector maintains the expectation of a negotiated solution before September, when the main shipping window for fruit from the São Francisco Valley to the USA begins. Other sectors also feel the effects Although fruit growing is among the affected chains, the list of products affected by the US surcharge includes other agribusiness segments, such as rice, wood and sugar. In a note sent to g1, the Brazilian Rice Industry Association (Abiarroz) reported that it participated in public hearings in Washington to argue that Brazilian rice has a complementary role in supplying the US, as local production would not be sufficient to meet all demand. But exposure to the American market is lower than in other chains. The USA is not among the main destinations for Brazilian cereal, whose most relevant markets are countries in Latin America and Africa, such as Venezuela, Mexico and Senegal. The entity to