President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he planned to hit Brazil with a 50% tariff, in part because of the treatment of its former president Jair Bolsonaro, his political ally.
In a letter on his Truth Social social media network, Trump told current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that “the way Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro … is an international disgrace.”
Trump has fiercely defended Bolsonaro, who is sometimes referred to as the “Trump of the tropics,” as Bolsonaro faces charges that he plotted to overturn his 2022 election loss.
“This trial should not be taking place,” Trump added.
Trump accused the Brazilian government of “insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans” including censorship of “U.S. Social Media platforms.”
Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled last month that social media companies can be held accountable for the content posted on their platforms. Elon Musk’s social media site, X, was also briefly banned last year in Brazil after Musk refused to comply with a court request to ban some accounts.
“In addition, we have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Brazil, and have concluded that we must move away from the longstanding, and very unfair trade relationship engendered by Brazil’s Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal,” Trump said.
In his letter, Trump said “unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States” also contributed to his consideration of the high tariff rate. However, the United States has a good trade surplus with Brazil — more than $7 billion last year.
“Please understand that the 50% number is far less than what is needed to have the Level Playing Field we must have with your Country,” Trump concluded.
As with other countries that have received letters from the White House, Trump threatened even higher tariffs against Brazil if it chooses to retaliate.
Brazil was the 18th-largest source of U.S. goods imports last year, with more than $42 billion worth of imports entering the country, according to U.S. International Trade Commission data.
The 50% rate is by far the highest tariff Trump has slapped on any nation so far this week as he rolls out dozens of letters on his social media platforms.
On April 2, which Trump termed “Liberation Day,” he said he planned to put only a 10% tariff on Brazil.
Prosecutors in Brazil have alleged that Bolsonaro was part of a scheme that included a plan to assassinate the country’s current president, known as Lula, who defeated him in the last election, and Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Bolsonaro has denied all wrongdoing.
Trump’s media company sued Moraes this year after he moved to ban the social media accounts of a pro-Bolsonaro commentator.
“Brazil is doing a terrible thing on their treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro,” Trump said Monday on Truth Social. “I have watched, as has the World, as they have done nothing but come after him, day after day, night after night, month after month, year after year! He is not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE.”
In a reference to his own criminal charges, Trump added:“This is nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent — Something I know much about! It happened to me, times 10.”
