Trump announces 50% tariff for Brazilian products

United States President Donald Trump imposed a 50% rate on all Brazilian exports to his country. This new episode of the Tariff War imposed by the American takes place shortly after the BRICS summit meeting in Rio de Janeiro (RJ). The group is seen as a threat to US interests, as it disputes the imposed geopolitical order and the hegemony of the dollar in trade relations.

The announcement of the new fee appears in a letter sent by Trump to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday (9). According to the document, the rates come into force on August 1.

The infamous statement, in the form of a letter, begins defending former President Jair Bolsonaro, which gives evidence that Eduardo Bolsonaro’s permanence in the US was focused on this moment. The licensed deputy acts in a declared manner against Brazil by trying to create obstacles in relations between the countries with the purpose of harming the Lula government. During the week, Trump had already spoken in favor of Bolsonaro, which generated reaction from the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, as well as threatening the BRICS.

Read more: Lula condemns Trump’s threat: “We don’t want emperor”

However, the threats have become concrete actions. In the text (see complete at the end) is said: “From August 1, 2025, we will charge from Brazil a 50% tariff over all Brazilian exports sent to the United States, separated from all existing sectoral tariffs. Overflow to avoid this 50% tariff will be subject to this higher tariff.”

To top it off, a threat against any attempt at Brazilian retaliation is made: “If for any reason you decide to increase your rates, whatever the value chosen, it will be added to the 50% we will charge. ”

Trump’s inexplicable allegation for tariff increase – considering that the US is surplus in the relationship with Brazil – maintains that the country needs to be “away from the long and very unfair commercial relationship generated by tariff and non -tariff barriers in Brazil.”

Read more: Attack on sovereignty: Itamaraty reacts to US support to Bolsonaro

The US president also attacks the Brazilian elections and cites the Federal Supreme Court, which accuses of promoting persecution against “Freedom of expression of Americans”, Situation that is expressed in orders against “US social media platforms” – as bigs techs.

So far the Brazilian government has not commented on the case.

See the full letter below:

July 9, 2025
Your Excellence
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
President of the Federative Republic of Brazil
Brasilia

Dear Mr. President:

I met and treated former President Jair Bolsonaro, and respected him a lot, as well as most other countries in countries. The way Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a highly respected leader around the world during his term, including the United States, is an international shame. This judgment should not be occurring. It is a witch hunt that should end immediately!

Partly due to Brazil’s insidious attacks against free elections and the fundamental violation of Americans’ freedom of expression (as recently demonstrated by the Brazilian Supreme Court of Brazil, which issued hundreds of secret and illegal censorship orders to US social media platforms, threatening them with fines of millions of dollars and expulsion from the Brazilian social media market), from August 1, 2025, we will charge Brazil from Brazil. 50% tariff over all Brazilian exports sent to the United States, separated from all existing sectoral tariffs. Overflowed goods to try to avoid this 50% fare will be subject to this highest rate.

In addition, we had years to discuss our business relationship with Brazil and concluded that we need to get away from the long and very unfair commercial relationship generated by tariff and non -tariff barriers in Brazil. Our relationship, unfortunately, has been far from reciprocal.

Please understand that the 50% are much less than it would be necessary to have equal terms in our trade with your country. And it is necessary to have this to correct the serious injustices of the current system. As you know, there will be no fare if Brazil, or companies within your country, decide to build or manufacture products within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to quickly and routinely approve – in other words, in a matter of weeks.

If for any reason you decide to increase your rates, whatever the value chosen, it will be added to the 50% we will charge. Please understand that these tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of tariff and non -tariff barriers in Brazil, which caused these unsustainable commercial deficits against the United States. This deficit is a great threat to our economy and, in fact, our national security!

In addition, due to the continuous attacks of Brazil to digital business activities of American companies, as well as other unfair business practices, I am instructing the United States Commerce Representative, Jamieson Greer, to immediately start an investigation in Section 301 on Brazil.

If you want to open your commercial markets, so far closed, to the United States and eliminate their fares, non -tariff policies and commercial barriers, we may, perhaps, consider an adjustment in this letter. These rates can be modified, up or down, depending on the relationship with your country. You will never be disappointed with the United States of America.

Thank you so much for your attention to this subject!

With the best votes, I am,
Yours sincerely,
DONALD J. TRUMP
President of the United States of America