China's export boom amid US tariffs reshapes Brazil's trade

President Trump's renewed protectionist tariffs have driven the United States' share of Brazil's exports down from 24.4% in 2001 to just 9.4% in the first five months of 2026, the lowest level of the century. In the same period, China's share of Brazilian exports rose to about 28%, making it Brazil's leading trade partner and pushing bilateral trade to roughly $171 billion in 2025.

Chinese foreign‑trade data for May 2026 show exports of US$376.8 billion, a 19.2% year‑on‑year increase, yielding a monthly surplus of US$105.4 billion and a twelve‑month trade balance of US$1.168 trillion. The contrast underscores a broader shift in global economic power, prompting Brazil to diversify its markets toward Asia, the Middle East, Africa and other Latin American nations and lessen reliance on the United States.