Trump slaps the highest tariffs on Brazil
U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 50 percent tariff on most Brazilian goods on July 30, further escalating an already tense diplomatic standoff, Africanews reported on July 31.
Trump also announced sanctions against a Brazilian Supreme Court justice overseeing the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, his ideological ally.
Bolsonaro, a far-right figure, is facing charges related to an alleged coup attempt following his 2022 election loss to left-Wing Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Similarly, in 2023, Trump was indicted over his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential elections.
Trump dismissed Bolsonaro’s prosecution as a “witch hunt,” while his administration has accused the Brazilian government of waging “an oppressive campaign of censorship” against conservative voices online.
In an executive order, Trump claimed that actions taken by the Brazil’s government and Supreme Court “threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”
Brazilian President Lula da Silva has pushed back strongly. On July 31st, he condemned U.S. interference in Brazil’s justice system as “unacceptable.”
Lula stated, “I’m heading to a meeting to defend another kind of sovereignty, that of the Brazilian people in response to the measures announced by the president of the United States. So today, for me, is a sacred day of sovereignty.”
The 50 percent tariff announced by Trump is the steepest imposed on any economy this year.
However, the administration softened the impact by exempting several key Brazilian exports, including civil aircraft, energy products, precious metals, fertilisers, and orange juice. These goods will remain subject to the existing 10 percent tariff.
Analysts have suggested that the exemptions were designed to protect American business interests.
A professor of international relations at Brazil’s FAAP university, Vinicius Vieira, acknowledged that there have been some victories.
He said, “Orange juice, for example, may not be that relevant in terms of value, but it is important in the interior of the state of São Paulo. In some cases, almost the entire farm production is directed to the American market.”
Lula signalled a willingness to negotiate, but will not relinquish the instruments Brazil have to protect themselves, hinting at potential retaliatory measures.
The new tariffs are set to take effect on August 6.
Africanews, Maghrebi.org
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