In northern Rio de Janeiro state, hope for a strong coffee harvest has turned into confusion and anxiety after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a steep 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee imports.
For small scale growers in the region, the news came like a punch to the gut. “We had high expectations until about 15 or 30 days ago. We were hoping for a great harvest, good prices, everything going well,” said José Natal da Silva, a coffee farmer from Varre-Sai. “And then, out of nowhere, a bomb exploded, and now we don’t even know who to turn to.”
With no certainty that their beans will even make it to U.S. markets, small producers have been forced to cut back. Many are letting go of harvest workers and putting export plans on hold.
“How are we supposed to buy what our crops need, and provide for our homes and families too?” asked coffee producer Fernanda Marçola. “All of this has left us with our hearts in our hands. We still don’t know what lies ahead.”
Trump’s decision to impose the tariff is directly tied to ongoing legal cases in Brazil. Former President Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally of Trump, is currently on trial before Brazil’s Supreme Court over allegations of plotting to overturn the 2022 election.
President Lula da Silva slammed the move, calling the tariff “unacceptable blackmail.”
Coffee farmer Marcio Vargas sees the situation clearly: “This is all political. And we, the ones at the bottom, are the ones who’ll suffer the consequences.”The effects won’t just be felt in Brazil. U.S. coffee drinkers may soon see prices rise.
With Brazil supplying roughly 30% of America’s coffee, over $1.6 billion worth last year, any disruption could hit retailers hard. Low global coffee stocks only add to the concern.
