Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Brazil, demands Bolsonaro’s trial end | World News
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that America would impose a 50% tariff on all imports from Brazil after he had a public spat with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva this week, where the latter called him an unwanted “emperor.”
In the letter posted on Truth Social, Trump announced that the 50% tariff is linked to Brazil’s treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing trial on the charges of plotting a coup to stop President Luiz Inacio from taking office in 2023. Trump also accused Brazil of “attacks” on US tech companies.
Trump was involved in a public spat with Luiz Inacio earlier this week over what the US president called a “witch hunt” of ex-president Bolsonaro, while President Lula said Brazil would not accept “interference” from anyone and added, “No one is above the law.”
President Trump’s letter to the Federative Republic of Brazil pic.twitter.com/G8JATXGRqI
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 9, 2025
The letter shared President Trump stated that 50% levies were imposed due “in part to Brazil’s insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans.” The new tariff would come into effect on August 1.
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Post the announcement, Brazil’s real currency which was already reeling under the losses, added 2% fall and companies such as planemaker Embraer and oil major Petrobras suffered setbacks in the US stock market after 50% tariff news.
The Brazilian government didn’t issue any official statement regarding the new US levies but President Lula, vice president, finance miner and others were called to an emergency meeting in Brasilia on Wednesday night to discuss the new US tariff.
Till now, Trump has posted 22 letters to countries across the world on social media, including its trade partners South Korea, Sri Lanka, Japan informing them about the new tariffs on their goods which would take effect from August 1 onwards.
Brazil’s second largest trading partner after China is the United States and the 50% tariffs are a major increase from the 10% that were announced in April.
