World Desk

US President Donald Trump has warned he will impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, intensifying tensions with the South American nation. The proposed hike was outlined in a letter shared on social media, where Trump accused Brazil of targeting American tech companies and persecuting former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently on trial over an alleged coup attempt following the 2022 election.

In the letter, Trump denounced what he described as Brazil's “attacks” on US tech firms and referred to Bolsonaro's prosecution as a “witch hunt.”

Reacting on social media, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva vowed to retaliate if tariffs are raised and rejected any outside pressure on the country's judiciary. “No one is above the law,” Lula said earlier this week, adding that Brazil “would not accept interference from anyone.”

Trump also announced Wednesday that a previously declared 50% tariff on copper imports would take effect on August 1, citing national security reasons. The move is part of a broader campaign, with Trump sending tariff notifications to 22 countries this week, including key trade partners like Japan, South Korea, and Sri Lanka. Most of these actions revive earlier proposals delayed due to financial market concerns.

However, Trump’s message to Brazil was notably more pointed, escalating from the previously proposed 10% tariff. He labeled the 50% rate “necessary... to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime,” and called for a Section 301 investigation into Brazil’s digital trade policies—an approach the US has used before to justify punitive tariffs.

Trump also accused the Brazilian government of undermining free speech and democratic norms, pointing to rulings that targeted US social media companies like his own Trump Media. The criticism comes as Brazil’s courts have clashed with tech platforms, including Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), over content related to the 2022 election. Brazil’s Supreme Court recently ruled that platforms could be held liable for content shared by users.

In the letter, Trump expressed support for Bolsonaro, saying he “respected him greatly” and describing his ongoing legal troubles as “an international disgrace.” The two had a warm relationship during their overlapping presidencies and shared similar political styles. Bolsonaro has denied any role in the January 2023 riots that saw his supporters storm Brazil's government buildings following Lula’s election win.

Earlier this week, Trump compared Bolsonaro’s legal challenges to his own: “This is nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent - Something I know much about!” Bolsonaro responded by thanking Trump for his solidarity.

Trump also took aim at the recent Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro, calling the group—which includes Brazil—“anti-American” and vowing to impose an additional 10% tariff on those nations. In response, Lula criticized Trump's posture, saying, “He needs to know that the world has changed. We don’t want an emperor.”