The president of the Brazilian Honey and Derivatives Industry Association said new U.S. tariffs on honey will primarily affect American consumers.

This development threatens a key export relationship and could destabilize the Brazilian honey market as exporters face significant financial losses. The tension highlights the risk of trade wars where domestic protections lead to higher prices for end users.

José Velloso, the president of Abimaq, said the matter during an interview with Jovem Pan News. He said that the financial burden of the "tarifaço" — a steep tariff increase — will be passed down to the U.S. consumer rather than being absorbed solely by the producers.

The industry is already seeing a downturn in performance. Brazilian honey sales to the U.S. dropped by 11% [1] in 2026. Velloso said that the current round of tariffs could result in a loss of up to 10% of total exports [2].

Financial estimates suggest the impact is severe. The Brazilian honey sector expects a financial loss of US$ 53 million by the end of the year [3] due to a 50% U.S. tariff. This projection underscores the vulnerability of the sector to sudden shifts in U.S. trade policy.

Despite these losses, Velloso cautioned against the Brazilian government implementing retaliatory trade measures. He said that retaliation could further damage the domestic economy, and complicate long-term trade relations. He advocated for a strategic approach to maintain market access without triggering a wider commercial conflict.

The association continues to monitor the impact of these tariffs on smaller producers who lack the capital to absorb sudden price hikes or find alternative markets quickly.

“the new "tarifaço" of the US will fall on the American consumer”

The situation illustrates a classic trade friction where protective tariffs intended to shield domestic producers create inflationary pressure for consumers. For Brazil, the challenge is balancing the need to protect its industry from significant revenue losses—estimated in the tens of millions—against the risk that retaliatory tariffs would trigger a trade war, potentially closing off other critical U.S. markets.