Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump launched his global tariff assault into overdrive on Wednesday (July 9), announcing a 50% duty on goods from Brazil, to start on August 1.
Trump's Brazil tariff order came in a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that vented anger over what he called the "Witch Hunt" trial of Lula's right-wing predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, and adding to an increasingly bitter public feud with Lula.
Trump also criticized what he said were Brazil's attacks on free elections, Americans' free speech and "SECRET and UNLAWFUL Censorship Orders to U.S. Social Media platforms." He ordered the U.S. Trade Representative's office to launch a new "Section 301" unfair trade practices investigation that could add even more tariffs, citing "Brazil's continued attacks on the Digital Trade Activities of American companies."
Lula responded to Trump's letter by issuing a statement saying that any unilateral measure to increase tariffs would be met with a response in accordance with Brazilian law.
Brazil is the 15th largest U.S. trading partner, with total two-way trade of $92 billion in 2024, and a rare $7.4 billion U.S. trade surplus, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Top U.S. exports to the South American country are commercial aircraft, petroleum products and crude oil, coal and semiconductors while Brazil's top exports to the U.S. are crude oil, coffee, semi-finished steel and pig iron.
