US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a steep 50% tariff on imports from Brazil, escalating tensions in what is quickly becoming a full-blown trade dispute between the two nations.
According to a White House fact sheet released on Wednesday (local time), the decision was prompted by what the US government described as Brazil’s recent “unusual and extraordinary” actions that pose a threat to American national security, foreign relations, and economic interests.
The order outlines that an additional 40% tariff will be added to existing duties, raising the total tariff level to 50%. The measure invokes the President’s emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA).
“The Brazilian government’s actions have harmed U.S. companies, suppressed the free speech rights of U.S. citizens, and endangered U.S. foreign policy and economic stability,” the White House statement said.
A key point of contention cited in the order is Brazil’s internal political situation. The executive order accuses the Brazilian government of engaging in politically motivated legal actions against former President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters. These actions, according to the order, represent “serious human rights abuses” and have “undermined the rule of law” in the South American country.
“The politically motivated persecution, harassment, censorship, and prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro and thousands of his supporters constitute a clear violation of human rights,” the order stated.
Earlier this month, Trump had warned of the impending tariff increase and publicly condemned the ongoing trial against Bolsonaro, labeling it a “witch hunt.” Bolsonaro, who has previously boasted of his close relationship with Trump, has been facing multiple legal challenges in Brazil since leaving office.
In a parallel move, the US administration also announced sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The sanctions include visa restrictions and asset freezes, with the US accusing the judge of serious human rights violations including arbitrary detentions and suppression of free expression.
“The United States is sanctioning Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for serious human rights abuse, including arbitrary detention involving flagrant denials of fair trial guarantees and violations of freedom of expression,” said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement.
These developments mark a significant escalation in US-Brazil relations, adding economic and diplomatic pressure on the Lula administration amid rising global scrutiny of Brazil’s internal politics and judicial independence.
