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Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Brazil after spat with Lula

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday an open letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in which he threatens to impose a 50% tariff on all Brazilian exports to the U.S., separate from all sectoral tariffs, starting on August 1.

Donald Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday an open letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in which he threatens to impose a 50% tariff on all Brazilian exports to the U.S., separate from all sectoral tariffs, starting on August 1.

Trump tied tariffs to what he has described as a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/trump-defends-bolsonaro-as-brazil-rejects-us-interference">"Witch Hunt" against former President Jair Bolsonaro</a>, who is on currently on trial on coup-related charges and barred from running in the next year's presidential election, and further cited attacks on free elections, violations of Americans' free speech rights and unfair trade practices.

FOX News

Trump tied tariffs to what he has described as a "Witch Hunt" against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on currently on trial on coup-related charges and barred from running in the next year's presidential election, and further cited attacks on free elections, violations of Americans' free speech rights and unfair trade practices.

In Brazil, political figures engaged in a blame game over the tariffs. Government supporters blamed <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/brazil-court-probes-bolsonaros-son-over-us-sanctions-campaign">Bolsonaro's self-exiled son Eduardo</a> for an alleged attack on national sovereignty and interests, while Bolsonaro allies pointed fingers at the Lula administration and the Brazilian Supreme Court.

Valor International

In Brazil, political figures engaged in a blame game over the tariffs. Government supporters blamed Bolsonaro's self-exiled son Eduardo for an alleged attack on national sovereignty and interests, while Bolsonaro allies pointed fingers at the Lula administration and the Brazilian Supreme Court.

After an emergency meeting with top ministers, Lula said in a statement on X that Brazil, as a sovereign nation with independent institutions, would not accept any form of tutelage, and that any unilateral tariff hikes would be addressed in accordance with Brazil's Economic Reciprocity Law.

Lula

After an emergency meeting with top ministers, Lula said in a statement on X that Brazil, as a sovereign nation with independent institutions, would not accept any form of tutelage, and that any unilateral tariff hikes would be addressed in accordance with Brazil's Economic Reciprocity Law.

Financial markets in Brazil have reacted negatively to these developments on Wednesday, as the Brazilian real fell almost 3 percent against the U.S. dollar and the largest U.S.-listed exchange-trade fund tracking Brazilian stocks was down 2 percent and lost a further 1.7 percent in premarket trading.

Wall Street Journal

Financial markets in Brazil have reacted negatively to these developments on Wednesday, as the Brazilian real fell almost 3 percent against the U.S. dollar and the largest U.S.-listed exchange-trade fund tracking Brazilian stocks was down 2 percent and lost a further 1.7 percent in premarket trading.

U.S. goods imports from Brazil last year were estimated to be above a record of $40 billion, with total trade estimated to be at $92 billion. Key products include crude oil, aircraft, coffee, cellulose, beef, sugar, ethanol and orange juice.

Agência Brasil

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

U.S. goods imports from Brazil last year were estimated to be above a record of $40 billion, with total trade estimated to be at $92 billion. Key products include crude oil, aircraft, coffee, cellulose, beef, sugar, ethanol and orange juice.

Trump's decisive action against Brazil's authoritarian overreach sends a clear message about defending American values and free speech. The 50% tariffs directly target Lula's regime for its political persecution of Bolsonaro and censorship of U.S. social media companies through unlawful court orders. This represents necessary pushback against Brazil's attacks on democratic institutions and American digital trade interests.

Trump's decisive action against Brazil's authoritarian overreach sends a clear message about defending American values and free speech. The 50% tariffs directly target Lula's regime for its political persecution of Bolsonaro and censorship of U.S. social media companies through unlawful court orders. This represents necessary pushback against Brazil's attacks on democratic institutions and American digital trade interests.

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Trump's 50 percent tariff on Brazil targets the country's authoritarian regime that has aggressively persecuted Bolsonaro and his right-wing allies while issuing unlawful censorship orders for U.S. social media companies and aligning with China especially in digital infrastructure at the expense of Western digital security. This is a much needed pushback against attacks on democratic institutions and American values.

Trump's 50 percent tariff on Brazil targets the country's authoritarian regime that has aggressively persecuted Bolsonaro and his right-wing allies while issuing unlawful censorship orders for U.S. social media companies and aligning with China especially in digital infrastructure at the expense of Western digital security. This is a much needed pushback against attacks on democratic institutions and American values.

Trump's tariff threat represents a dangerous and megalomaniacal intervention in Brazil's domestic affairs that undermines democratic institutions. The move punishes Brazil for prosecuting a former president who attempted to overturn election results, essentially using economic coercion to help another wannabe dictator. This action contradicts America's historical role as a force for democracy and peace through trade.

Trump's tariff threat represents a dangerous and megalomaniacal intervention in Brazil's domestic affairs that undermines democratic institutions. The move punishes Brazil for prosecuting a former president who attempted to overturn election results, essentially using economic coercion to help another wannabe dictator. This action contradicts America's historical role as a force for democracy and peace through trade.

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Brazil’s Lula Just Got a Huge Gift From the White House

There's a 33% chance that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be reelected as Brazil's president in October 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 33% chance that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be reelected as Brazil's president in October 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Trump Threatens Brazil With 50% Tariff

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