October 29, 2025

Hold on to your hats! The US Senate just fired a major shot by voting 52-48 to overturn President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Brazil. This is the first of three big bills aimed at rolling back Trump’s recent trade blitz. Here’s the scoop: Trump declared a "national emergency" back in July to slap Brazil with tariffs. Why? Because Brazil prosecuted its former president, Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted for an alleged coup attempt. The Senate’s vote means they want to cancel this emergency and cut those tariffs loose! Five brave Republicans broke ranks to join Democrats in passing this bill. Among them are big names like Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell. But don’t pop the champagne yet, because the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is likely to ignore this measure and keep Trump’s tariffs intact. Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia and the bill’s author, hit hard with his words: “People are suffering. They’re paying more for food, more for clothes, more for healthcare, more for energy, more for building supplies, because of President Trump’s tariff policy.” The tariffs have caused prices to rise and pinched American wallets. However, some Republicans warned that scrapping the tariffs might hurt Trump’s chances to score new trade deals worldwide. The tension is real! On the other side of the globe, Brazil’s battle is just as spicy. Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a criminal group and attempting to violently overthrow democracy. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison but denies all guilt and has appealed to Brazil’s Supreme Court. Trump’s tariffs hit Brazilian imports at 50%, and he even sanctioned the Brazilian Supreme Court justice involved in Bolsonaro’s case. The drama includes alleged attempts by Bolsonaro to rope Trump into meddling with Brazilian politics, making this a tangled web of politics and trade. Interestingly, Trump said last week he might cut the Brazil tariffs — but only if the right conditions arrive. Earlier this year, the Senate also voted to end tariffs on Canada but failed to stop Trump’s global tariff crackdown, as the House blocked those moves. This ongoing tug-of-war highlights deep divisions over America’s trade path. As Trump jets to Asia and prepares to meet China’s Xi Jinping, the Senate’s action shows that inside the US, the fight over tariffs and trade wars is hotter than ever!

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Tags: Us senate, Trump tariffs, Brazil, Jair bolsonaro, Trade policy, National emergency,