From NBC News: President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he planned to hit Brazil with a 50% tariff, in part due to the treatment of its former president and his political ally, Jair Bolsonaro.
In a letter posted to Trump’s Truth social media network, he told current president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that “the way Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro…is an international disgrace.”
Trump has fiercely defended Bolsonaro, who is sometimes referred to as the “Trump of the tropics,” as the former Brazilian leader faces charges that he plotted to overturn his 2022 election loss.
“This trial should not be taking place,” Trump added.
President Trump’s letter reads, in part:
“I knew and dealt with former President Jair Bolsonaro, and respected him greatly, as did most other leaders of countries. The way that Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a highly respected leader throughout the World during his ter, including by the United States, is an international disgrace. This trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!
“Due in part to Brazil’s insidious attacks on free elections, and the fundamental free speech rights of Americans (as lately illustrated by the Brazilian Supreme Court, which has issued hundreds of SECRET and UNLAWFUL censorship orders to U.S. social media platforms, threatening them with millions of dollars in fines and eviction from teh Brazilian social media market), starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Brazil a tariff of 50% on any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States, separate from all sectoral tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade this 50% tariff will be subject to that higher tariff.
“In addition, we have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Brazil, and have concluded that we must move away from the longstanding, and very unfair trade relationship engendered by Brazil’s Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal.”
Below is the entire letter:
President Trump’s letter to the Federative Republic of Brazil pic.twitter.com/G8JATXGRqI
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 9, 2025
READ MORE from NBC News.
NEW: President Trump hits Brazil with a 50% tariff, citing criminal charges against former president Jair Bolsonaro. https://t.co/6cLQECyVt4
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 9, 2025
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