In a dramatic escalation, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on all Brazilian imports, set to begin August 1, 2025. The move comes after lobbying efforts by Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who claims the Supreme Court in Brazil is unfairly targeting his father for political reasons. Trump framed the prosecution as a “witch hunt,” likening it to his own legal battles.
The decision, reportedly made unilaterally by Trump, bypasses narrower sanctions on the judge overseeing Bolsonaro’s case and instead targets Brazil’s entire economy. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the tariffs as a violation of national sovereignty and vowed to retaliate. The diplomatic crisis threatens Brazil-U.S. trade just as Bolsonaro is about to stand trial for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2022 election and plotting political violence.
The tariffs have sparked debate over economic consequences, Trump’s use of trade policy for political ends, and the broader implications for U.S.-Brazil relations ahead of Brazil’s 2026 election.