Brazil-USA: Trump Administration Proposes 25% Tariff on Brazilian Goods
On June 1, 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) proposed a 25% tariff on many imports from Brazil, after determining that the country had engaged in unfair trade practices in multiple areas, ranging from digital trade to deforestation. The proposal is being put forth under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Public comments will be accepted until July 1 and the USTR will hold a hearing about the proposed action on July 6.
According to a report from the London Stock Exchange Group, the tariff proposed by the USTR would partially replace a 50% tariff imposed by Trump last year on many Brazilian goods, with 40% as punishment for Brazil’s prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The US Supreme Court ruled those tariffs unlawful in February.
China: New Overseas Food Manufacturer Registration Regulation (GACC Decree 280) Takes Effect June 1
On June 1, 2026, GACC Decree No. 280 replaced Decree No. 248 as the framework governing the registration of overseas manufacturers of imported foods. According to a report by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the implementing measures (GACC Announcement No. 27 of 2026) retain 17 product categories that require an official recommendation from the exporting country’s competent authority before registration. Nuts and seeds and dried fruits are among those categories.
Per the same report, existing valid registrations carry over and do not need to be resubmitted; the principal changes concern renewal procedures and customs declaration requirements. Exporters of nuts and dried fruits to China should confirm their registration status and verify any pending renewals.
Mexico-EU: Two Trade Agreements Signed
On May 22, 2026, the EU and Mexico signed the Modernized Global Agreement (MGA) and interim Trade Agreement (iTA) during the 8th EU-Mexico Summit in Mexico City.
The EU and Mexico will now follow their respective procedures to ratify the agreements. On the EU side, the MGA will be subject to ratification by all Member States, following their national procedures. The iTA will follow EU-only ratification processes as it falls under EU exclusive competences. The iTA will expire once the MGA enters into force.
USA-EU: Provisional Agreement Includes Tariff Rate Quota for US Nuts
On May 20, 2026, the Council presidency and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the regulations implementing the tariff elements of the EU–US Joint Statement of August 2025. Annex III of the main regulation establishes a 500,000-metric-ton tariff rate quota (TRQ) granting zero-duty access to the EU market for US nuts, which include almonds, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pistachios and walnuts.
The agreement still requires formal adoption by both institutions before publication in the Official Journal of the European Union; it would then enter into force the following day. A sunset clause sets expiry at the end of 2029 unless renewed.
On June 2, the agreement was approved by the Parliament’s International Trade Committee (INTA), clearing the way for a plenary vote on June 16.
India-USA: BTA Talks Open in New Delhi; Tree Nuts Covered by Tariff Framework
US chief negotiator Brendan Lynch began a four-day round of Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) talks in New Delhi on June 1, 2026, according to India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, as reported by Business Standard.
Under the framework set out in the US–India Joint Statement of February 6, 2026, India committed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on US tree nuts. According to India’s Budget 2026–27 documents, reported by Business Standard, in-shell almonds, walnuts and pistachios are to be liberalized under tariff rate quotas, and new tariff lines were created for pecans and dried cranberries. India is a major importer of US almonds, walnuts and pistachios.
USA: Court of International Trade Rules 10% Global Tariff Unlawful; Tariff Remains in Effect Pending Appeal
On May 7, 2026, in a 2-1 decision reported by Reuters, the US Court of International Trade ruled that the 10% global import surcharge imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 is unlawful. The surcharge applies to all imports into the US, including all nuts and dried fruits.
The court limited relief to two importers and the State of Washington; for all other importers the tariff remains in effect pending the government’s appeal. The surcharge is set to expire on July 24.
USA: Trump Administration Moves Forward With Section 301 Tariff Efforts
According to Oxford Economics, the Section 122 tariffs, which are set to expire on July 24, are likely to be replaced by country-specific Section 301 tariffs, which are more legally durable because they entail investigations prior to implementation.
In March, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) launched Section 301 investigations into the labor practices of 60 countries and into structural excess capacity and production in a further 16 countries. Such investigations typically take 12-18 months, but Oxford Economics expects to see an expedited timeline that allows the Section 301 tariffs to take effect as the Section 122 tariffs expire, maintaining rates broadly similar to the 10% rate currently in place.
However, Section 301 allows different rates to be set for each country, opening up the possibility of some trading partners facing higher tariffs than others. On June 2, the USTR proposed new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, after finding that they failed to prevent trade in goods made with forced labor. According to analysis by the London Stock Exchange Group, the USTR proposed a 10% rate for goods from Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, and a 12.5% rate for the remaining countries investigated, including China, India, Nigeria, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Written comments will be accepted until July 6, and the USTR will hold hearings about the proposed actions on July 7.
USA: More Than US$100 Billion in Tariff Refunds Expected in Q2 2026
According to Oxford Economics, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is quickly issuing refunds on tariffs collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which were struck down by the US Supreme Court in February. CBP is expected to disburse up to US$166 billion in refunds, amounting to 0.5% of US GDP. The agency’s online refund system, launched in April, may take up to 45 days to process refund applications. As of June 2, CBP has authorized US$35.5 billion in refunds, with US$20 billion having already been sent to importers. Oxford Economics projects that more than US$100 billion in refunds will be issued in Q2 2026, with the remainder being distributed within one year.
EU: New Generalized Scheme of Preferences Approved for Application in 2027
On April 28, 2026, the European Parliament voted in favor of the new Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) regulation, which will apply from January 1, 2027, providing reduced or zero tariffs on imports from 65 developing countries. The scheme retains its three arrangements: Standard GSP, GSP+ and Everything But Arms (EBA), now extended indefinitely.
Several GSP beneficiaries are significant suppliers of nuts and dried fruits to the EU, including cashews and peanuts from West Africa and India and various dried fruits. Current GSP+ beneficiaries must reapply under the new rules, and changes to beneficiary lists and graduation thresholds may affect preferential access by origin. See the Commission’s Questions and Answers and factsheet.
