Exporting from the US to Brazil

The United States is Brazil's second-largest trading partner (after China), with bilateral trade exceeding USD 80 billion annually. Despite strong commercial ties and ongoing negotiations, there is no preferential trade agreement between the US and Brazil — American goods pay the full Mercosur Common External Tariff (TEC).

Key product categories and tariff strategy

The US-Brazil trade relationship

Despite the lack of an FTA, commercial ties are deep:

• AmCham Brazil (American Chamber of Commerce) is one of the largest in the world with 5,000+ member companies across São Paulo, Rio, and other cities
• The US is Brazil's largest source of FDI — American companies have invested over USD 100 billion in Brazil
• Key sectors: oil & gas (Chevron, ExxonMobil), tech (Google, Microsoft, AWS), pharma (Pfizer, J&J), aerospace (Boeing), agribusiness (Cargill, ADM)
• Brazil is the US's second-largest trading partner in the Western Hemisphere (after Mexico)

The EU-Mercosur competitive gap

Starting May 2026, your European competitors pay lower tariffs that decrease every year:

Ex-Tarifário: your best tariff tool

Without a trade agreement, Ex-Tarifário is the single most powerful mechanism for US exporters. It provides immediate 0% import duty for capital goods and IT/telecom equipment with no Brazilian equivalent — and it's origin-neutral.

US products most likely to qualify:

• Oil & gas exploration and production equipment
• Medical imaging and diagnostic systems
• Semiconductor manufacturing equipment
• Data center and networking infrastructure
• Agricultural machinery and precision agriculture systems
• Aerospace components and ground support equipment

Regulatory requirements for US products

American certifications (FDA, UL, FCC) are not recognized in Brazil. Separate Brazilian certification is always required:

• ANVISA — pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food, cosmetics. FDA approval does NOT exempt from ANVISA registration. Budget 6-24 months for drug registration.
• INMETRO — electrical equipment, toys, automotive parts, PPE. UL listing does NOT replace INMETRO. Separate testing and certification required.
• Anatel — all wireless devices. FCC certification does NOT apply. Brazilian OCD laboratory testing required for every device with RF transmission.
• MAPA — agricultural products, meat, dairy. The US and Brazil have bilateral SPS agreements for specific commodities, but individual product clearance is still required.
• ANP — petroleum products and fuels require ANP authorization for import.

Strategy for US exporters

Without a trade agreement and facing growing EU competition, US exporters should consider:

1. Ex-Tarifário first. If your product is capital goods or IT equipment, check eligibility immediately — this can eliminate the 14-18% import duty entirely.
2. Local manufacturing. Many US companies (3M, Caterpillar, John Deere) manufacture in Brazil to avoid the tariff barrier. Consider CKD/SKD assembly operations.
3. Zona Franca de Manaus — for electronics and components, ZFM assembly offers massive tax savings. Amazon data centers, for example, benefit from this structure.
4. Drawback — if your Brazilian customer exports finished goods, they can recover all import taxes on your inputs.
5. Compete on technology. Where US products have clear technological advantages (aerospace, medical, semiconductors), the tariff premium may be justified by the lack of alternatives.

Practical next steps

1. Find your product's NCM code — enter your HTS/Schedule B code
2. Check Ex-Tarifário status — immediate 0% duty for qualifying products
3. Calculate the full landed cost — all 7 Brazilian taxes included
4. Verify regulatory requirements — ANVISA, INMETRO, Anatel, MAPA
5. Contact AmCham Brazil for market entry support and local partner introductions