By Associated Press’s Josh Boak
Washington (AP) On Wednesday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order threatening to slap 50% tariffs on Brazil, citing a 1977 statute that states that Brazil’s actions and the criminal prosecution of former President Jair Bolson constitute an economic emergency.
In a letter to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on July 9, Trump had threatened to impose tariffs. However, an earlier executive order based on the idea that trade imbalances pose a threat to the U.S. economy served as the legal foundation for that threat. However, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that America’s trade surplus with Brazil last year was $6.8 billion.
Although it did not identify the companies, X and Rumble, the White House statement claimed that Brazil’s judiciary had attempted to pressure social media companies to restrict their users.
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Bolsonaro, who tried to reverse the outcome of his 2022 defeat to Lula, seems to be someone Trump identifies with. Similarly, Trump’s attempts to reverse the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election led to his indictment in 2023.
The order would impose an extra 40% duty on top of the 10% base tariff that Trump is currently imposing. However, not all Brazilian imports would be subject to the 40% tariff: goods being prohibited include fertilizers, aluminum, tin, wood pulp, energy goods, and civil aircraft and parts.
The duties would take effect seven days after the order was signed on Wednesday, according to the order.
Additionally, on Wednesday, the Trump Treasury Department announced sanctions against Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Brazilian Supreme Court for allegedly suppressing free speech and Bolsonaro’s pending trial.
De Moraes is in charge of the criminal case against Bolsonaro, who is charged with orchestrating a scheme to maintain power in spite of his 2022 loss.
De Moraes and other Brazilian court officials were subject to visa restrictions issued by the State Department on July 18.
