US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 50% tariff on goods made in Brazil, escalating tensions with the South American country over digital trade restrictions, former president Jair Bolsonaro’s trial, and what Trump has called attacks on US tech companies.
He revealed the move in a tariff letter posted on social media, accusing Brazil of “attacks” on US tech companies and of conducting a “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro, who is currently facing prosecution over his alleged role in an attempt to overturn the 2022 election.
In a social media post responding to the letter, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned that any increase in tariffs on Brazil would be met with a reciprocal response, and added: “No one is above the law.”
Trump’s message goes significantly further than the 10% tariff previously announced by the White House, and marks the sharpest tone yet in his recent trade offensive, which has seen tariff letters sent to more than 20 countries.
In the Brazil-specific letter, Trump wrote that the 50% tariff rate was “necessary… to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime.” He also said he would order the US Trade Representative to launch a 301 investigation into Brazil’s digital trade practices.
Trump accused Brazil’s government of “insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans” and claimed it had engaged in censorship of “US Social Media platforms”. He referenced his own company, Trump Media, which runs Truth Social, as among those affected.
He added: “This is nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent – Something I know much about!” Bolsonaro responded by thanking the US president for his support.
Brazil has recently ruled that social media firms can be held responsible for content on their platforms, a move which has sparked legal battles with several US companies, including Trump’s own platform and Elon Musk’s X, which was temporarily banned for refusing to take down misinformation related to Brazil’s 2022 election.
Lula responded to Trump’s broader criticisms earlier this week by saying: “He needs to know that the world has changed. We don’t want an emperor.”
Trump also used the tariff announcement to express support for Bolsonaro. “I respected him greatly,” Trump said, adding that the trial against the former Brazilian president is “an international disgrace”.
The pair previously enjoyed a strong relationship while in office, meeting at the White House in 2019 and often drawing comparisons for their populist style. Both leaders refused to publicly concede defeat after their respective electoral losses.
Bolsonaro is standing trial for allegedly attempting a coup after Lula’s election victory, with thousands of his supporters storming key government buildings in Brasília in January 2023. Bolsonaro, who was in the United States at the time, has denied any links to the violence.
Trump also criticised the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, calling the group “anti-American” and announcing that those countries would be charged an additional 10% tariff.
His letter indicates that the 50% tariff on Brazilian goods will take effect from 1 August, along with similar measures on copper imports and other products from multiple trading partners. The tariff actions, initially proposed in April, had been paused following negative market reactions.
Despite this, Trump’s latest move appears to signal a more aggressive stance. “This tariff is necessary… to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime,” he reiterated.
While the United States currently runs a trade surplus with Brazil, economists warn that retaliatory measures and trade frictions could lead to broader economic and diplomatic fallout.
Follow us on:
