Bipartisan Senators Seek to Overturn Trump’s Brazil Tariffs as Supreme Court Sets Nov. 5 Hearing

Overview

• Five senators—Democrats Tim Kaine, Chuck Schumer, Jeanne Shaheen and Ron Wyden, plus Republican Rand Paul—introduced a measure on Sept. 18 to revoke the emergency declaration and cancel the Brazil duties.
• The proposal has privileged status that compels Senate consideration, but enactment would require Republican votes in the GOP-led Senate and subsequent approval in the Republican-controlled House.
• Trump imposed an additional 40% under the IEEPA on top of a prior 10% measure, creating roughly a 50% surcharge that took effect on Aug. 6, with nearly 700 items later exempted.
• Sponsors argue the IEEPA does not authorize unilateral tariffs and warn of higher U.S. consumer prices, citing more than $40 billion in annual imports from Brazil, about $2 billion in coffee, and roughly 130,000 U.S. jobs tied to the trade.
• The Supreme Court agreed to hear challenges to the tariff authority on Nov. 5, and the contested duties remain in force during the government’s appeal.