by HAOYU ZHANG
BEIJING – CHINA has approved 183 Brazilian companies to export coffee to its market, offering a vital lifeline to Brazil following sweeping US tariffs on its key exports.
The decision, announced by the Chinese embassy in Brazil, comes after Washington imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee and meat, which took effect in late July.
These sectors form a major part of Brazil’s export economy.
Brazil’s Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade estimates that the tariffs could impact 35.9% of exports to the US, potentially costing the country \$14.5 billion annually. In the 2024/2025 crop year alone, Brazil exported 7.5 million coffee bags to the US, generating \$1.9 billion.
As US-Brazil trade tensions escalate, China is emerging as an alternative market. Its coffee consumption rose 15% last season, and branded coffee shops have jumped 58% to nearly 50,000 outlets.
The new export approvals are valid for five years and highlight China’s growing interest in becoming a key player in global coffee trade, potentially replacing the US as Brazil’s top coffee customer.
The move also signals deepening trade ties between China and Brazil amid broader geopolitical shifts and BRICS solidarity against Western trade restrictions.
