The United States President, Donald Trump, on Wednesday threatened Brazil with a crippling tariff of 50% on all Brazilian exports starting August 1. The warning came in a formal letter addressed to Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and posted publicly on Trump’s Truth Social platform.
In the letter, Trump alleged that President Lula was engaged in a “Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!”—referring to the prosecution of Brazil’s right-wing former president, Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro is facing charges related to his actions during and after his term in office.
Trump stated that if Brazil does not drop the proceedings against Bolsonaro, the US will impose tariffs of 50% on Brazilian goods imported into the United States. He further claimed that these measures were necessary to “protect democracy and stop political persecution.”
The Brazilian government has not yet issued an official response. Analysts warn that the threat could significantly impact trade relations between the two countries, particularly affecting agricultural and mineral exports that form a substantial part of Brazil’s economy.
Trump’s statement is the latest in a series of aggressive trade threats aimed at leveraging political outcomes abroad. Similar letters were reportedly sent to other nations critical of Bolsonaro’s policies.