LATIN AMERICA EDITORIAL (EFE).— Latin American countries analyze the impact on their exports after the ruling of the United States Supreme Court that canceled part of the tariffs imposed during the Donald Trump administration and the entry into force of a new global surcharge of 10%a measure that generates mixed reactions in the region.
He new tariff It began to be applied this Tuesday to all goods entering the US marketwith exceptions for specific products or goods covered by current treaties, and will have an initial duration of 150 days, according to official provisions.
Although the court decision annulled previous taxes, the general surcharge maintains pressure on strategic sectors such as agribusiness, manufacturing and raw materials, at a time when several countries were negotiating better access conditions to the main market on the continent.
Brazil is among the economies most directly affected. In the previous trade escalation, Washington even imposed tariffs of up to 50% to Brazilian products. The partial suspension benefits exports valued at about 21.6 billion dollars, about half of what the South American country sells to USA.
In 2025, Brazilian exports to that destination fell 6.6% year-on-year; However, market diversification allowed the largest Latin American economy to close the year with an export record of 348.7 billion dollars, 3.5% more than in 2024.
The new scheme includes exemptions for fuel, meat, coffee, pulp, orange juice and aircraft, which alleviates pressure on key items of Brazilian industry and reduces the immediate impact on its trade balance.
Mexico, second regional economy and main Latin American trading partner of the United Statesfaces the stage with greater room for maneuver thanks to the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC)which keeps goods duty-free.
The Mexican Government has indicated that several products covered by the agreement remain exempt, although taxes continue in sectors such as steel, aluminum and vehicles. The Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, stated that The Supreme Court ruling reduced the pressure on goods outside the T-MECwhich would have passed from face a tariff of 25% to 15%, although they evaluate the legal scope of the new provisions.
In Argentina, the judicial resolution calls into question the legal basis of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment (ARTI), signed in November 2025 and which contemplated reducing the tariff for 1,675 positions from 10% to 0%. The export sector warned that cancellation of “reciprocal” taxes could affect its main concession.
In Central America, Costa Rica and Guatemala They opted for technical monitoring and defense of agreements. Guatemala, which allocates 30.3% of its exports – about 4.3 billion dollars – to the US market, is cautiously observing the future of the Reciprocal Tariff Agreement signed in January. Bolivia, With sales of 415 million in 2025, it reports a lower relative impact because China is its main trading partner.
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