On July 30, 2025, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, citing human rights abuses and political persecution in the case against former President Jair Bolsonaro. De Moraes, who is overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial for allegedly plotting to overturn his 2022 electoral defeat, faces asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Act. This follows earlier U.S. visa restrictions and comes alongside a new 50% tariff on Brazilian imports announced by President Trump, linking trade penalties to what he called a “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro. Brazil’s President Lula criticized the moves as violations of sovereignty and convened an emergency meeting in response. Critics warn that these actions undermine judicial independence and escalate U.S.-Brazil tensions beyond trade into political interference.