Trump Imposes 50% Tariff on Brazilian Imports Over Bolsonaro Trial

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 50% tariff on imports from Brazil, citing what he described as Brazilian authorities unfairly targeting former President Jair Bolsonaro in a “witch hunt.”

In a direct letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Trump claimed that the tariff serves as “rectification” for “grave injustices” against Bolsonaro, who stands accused of attempting a coup following his narrow defeat in Brazil’s 2022 election. Trump framed the tariff as a response not to economic imbalances, but to perceived political persecution.

“This is necessary to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime,” Trump wrote, explicitly tying the tariff to judicial actions against Bolsonaro. He suggested the 50% rate was deliberately chosen to press Brazil to reconsider the charges against his ally.

Bolsonaro, currently barred from seeking public office until 2030, has denied wrongdoing. Trump compared Bolsonaro’s situation to his own legal battles, calling it “a witch hunt” deserving of intervention. The move reflects growing tension between Trump and President Lula, who has rebuked the tariff threat as emblematic of “un-American” interference.

The 50% tariff marks the highest rate Trump has leveled at any country under his renewed trade strategy and is part of a wider campaign targeting multiple nations with “reciprocal tariffs.” The president’s letter to Brazil deviated from the generic format used in other countries, signalling a personalized diplomatic message linked to Bolsonaro’s legal case.

This decision stirred immediate concern in Brasília. President Lula’s team criticized the tariff as politically motivated and inconsistent with fair trade principles. Analysts warn it could prompt retaliatory trade measures and disrupt bilateral cooperation.

Although trade between the U.S. and Brazil has typically favoured U.S. exporters, Trump justified the tariff as a tool to protect American economic interests and human rights, framing it as a response to Brazil’s actions rather than a market imbalance.

With input from Al Jazeera