Los Angeles, US, (EFE). – United States President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a 50% tariff on imports from Brazil in retaliation for the legal proceedings against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) and the legal process against social media companies.
“The way that Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World during his Term, including by the United States, is an international disgrace. This Trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!” wrote Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“Due in part to Brazil’s insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans (…), starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Brazil a Tariff of 50% on any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States,” he added.
Trump was referring to the Supreme Court’s indictment of Bolsonaro for allegedly conspiring with military chiefs and former ministers to thwart the inauguration of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2023.
He also reacted to Brazil’s Supreme Court ruling, stating that social media companies could be held responsible for user-generated content on their platforms, and the X 2024 ban after Elon Musk declined to comply with a court order to suspend specific accounts.
“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, Non-Tariff Policies, and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal,” concluded the US president.
Trump said in his letter that “unsustainable trade deficits against the United States” also contributed to his decision to impose high tariffs.
However, the United States had a trade surplus with Brazil last year of more than 7 billion dollars.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry had summoned the chargé d’affaires of the United States, Gabriel Escobar, to explain a note released by the embassy defending former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The US President had also posted on Monday and Tuesday night on his social media platform, Truth Social, messages condemning the legal proceedings against Bolsonaro.
“I’ll be watching the WITCH HUNT of Jair Bolsonaro, his family, and thousands of his supporters, very closely. The only Trial that should be happening is a Trial by the Voters of Brazil — It’s called an Election. LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!” he wrote. EFE
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