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National product accounts for up to 83% of organic honey imported by the United States and will be defended in a public hearing scheduled for July 6, in Washington.
“I consume this honey every day and didn’t know it came from Brazil.”
The statement was heard by businesswoman Joelma Lambertucci de Brito during meetings with members of the United States government.
The comment showed that American authorities were unaware of the participation of Brazilian honey in supplying their own country.
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About 83% of the organic honey imported by the United States comes from Brazil. In the conventional market, approximately 75% of American imports also originate from Brazil.
The new round of tariffs proposed by the Donald Trump government, however, could raise prices, harm exporters, and reduce the supply of the product in American supermarkets.
Hearing in Washington will discuss tariffs on Brazilian honey
Joelma will participate in a public hearing on July 6, 2026, in Washington, to defend the inclusion of Brazilian honey in the list of tariff exemptions.
The meeting will be conducted by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, known by the acronym USTR.
The American government proposed, on June 1, 2026, tariffs of 25% on Brazilian goods.
A new measure was announced on June 2, with additional rates of 12.5% for 60 countries, including Brazil.
American investigations involve topics such as digital commerce, PIX, intellectual property, ethanol, preferential tariffs, and illegal deforestation.
American government unaware of the importance of Brazilian product
Joelma has been active for 35 years in the honey and propolis market and leads Lambertucci Trade Solution.
The company specializes in the entry of Brazilian beekeeping products into international markets.
Previous meetings placed the businesswoman in front of representatives from the United States Department of Agriculture and the USTR itself.
Brazilian honey was not initially included in the exemptions due to a lack of awareness about its relevance to the American market.
Consumers tend to only notice the brand displayed on the packaging. The origin of the product, on the other hand, often goes unnoticed.
The mobilization is part of an action led by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, ApexBrasil.
Sector presents arguments against the new charge
American importers and representatives of the Brazilian Association of Honey Exporters will also participate in the defense of the national product.
The first argument involves the absence of direct competition with the American producer in the organic market.
Beekeeping in the United States is mainly focused on pollination and conventional honey production.
Brazil, on the other hand, has favorable conditions to produce organic honey on a large scale.
Africanized bees are more resistant to diseases. This characteristic eliminates the need for antibiotics and acaricides during production.
The tariffs can also raise prices and cause a shortage of organic honey on American shelves.
Replacing Brazil with another supplier would not happen quickly. Converting a conventional area to organic requires at least one year.
Importers in the United States should also warn about financial losses and possible job cuts in the American market.
Producers in Piauí fear a new wave of losses
Piauí sent about 85% of the honey exported by the state to the United States in 2024.
A surcharge of 50%, applied in 2025, led to the cancellation of hundreds of tons negotiated.
Thousands of producers were affected by the financial losses.
Beekeeping currently represents a source of income for more than 40,000 families in Piauí.
The sector is now trying to prevent a new round of tariffs from causing more cancellations, unemployment, and reduced exports.
Joelma states that political work will continue in Washington if the exemption is not approved.
Will Brazilian honey escape the new tariffs?
The decision could affect Brazilian producers, American importers, sector workers, and consumers in the United States.
The outcome of the hearing will also show whether the American government will recognize the country’s dependence on organic honey produced in Brazil.
Do you believe that the United States should remove Brazilian honey from the new round of tariffs? Leave your opinion in the comments.
