Trump will extend national emergency over Brazil for a year

In the document, Trump states that the reasons that supported the emergency declaration remain valid, claiming that policies and actions of the Brazilian government continue to represent an "unusual and extraordinary" threat to national security, foreign policy and the US economy. The text repeats the justifications for last year's decree, including accusations of restrictions on freedom of expression, human rights violations and political persecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro, as well as criticism of decisions by the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

The measure, however, does not create new sanctions or reinstate tariffs. The extension is a requirement of the American National Emergencies Act, which determines the annual renewal of emergency declarations to avoid their automatic expiration.

The July 2025 decree had imposed an additional 40% tariff on most Brazilian imports based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). However, this tariff ceased to be in effect in February 2026, after the US Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA does not give the president the authority to impose trade tariffs.

Since then, the tariff regime has changed. Currently, an additional 25% tariff is in effect on several Brazilian products, adopted based on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, following an investigation conducted by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR). This month, the USTR also announced the addition of a 12.5% ??tax rate to the country resulting from investigations into forced labor. Brazil sued the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the surcharges.