Donald Trump has vowed to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods

2025-07-14 18:19:46 分类：Virtual Currency 阅读(71)

Donald Trump has vowed to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, accusing the South American nation of undermining free speech, a move that significantly escalates tensions between the US and Brazil.

On Truth Social, Trump unleashed a scathing attack on the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, criticizing its handling of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, a conservative leader.

Following Trump‘s remarks, Brazil’s currency slid 2.3%, falling to R$5.58 against the Us dollar during afternoon trading in New York. Meanwhile, futures tied to Brazils Bovespa stock index extended their losses, down 2.3% by evening trading in São Paulo.

Earlier that day, Trump had already imposed 25–30% tariffs on countries including Algeria, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. These letters followed threats of 25% tariffs against Japan, South Korea, and others.

While near-identical letters were sent to other countries affirming the strength and commitment of the US trading relationship, the message to Latin Americas largest economy took on a sharply different tone.

The proposed 50% tariff far exceeds the 10% duty already levied on Brazil as part of the “reciprocal” tariffs announced on April 2.

After Trump signaled a new wave of import taxes targeting South American nations, Brazil‘s Vice President and Trade Minister Geraldo Alckmin criticized the move, calling it “inappropriate.” He emphasized that Brazil is not a problem for the Us, citing economic data in the country’s defense.

Addressing reporters in Brasília, Alckmin argued there was no justification for higher tariffs on Brazilian goods, noting that the US has a trade surplus with Brazil. According to the US Office of the Trade Representative, America recorded a trade surplus of $7.4 billion in goods with Brazil in 2024.

Alckmin also warned that new tariffs could backfire on the US economy, using the steel industry as an example. He pointed out that Brazil is the third-largest buyer of coal used in American steelmaking. The country produces a semi-finished product and exports it to the US for final processing, meaning added tariffs would only increase US supply chain costs.

Trumps letter appears to reaffirm his earlier threat of imposing a 10% blanket tariff on all BRICS nations, a bloc in which Brazil is a founding member. The former president later accused BRICS of fostering “anti-American policies.”

Adding to the diplomatic strain, US Secretary Marco Rubio said in May that Washington was considering sanctions against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The judge has been at the center of political controversy after ordering the suspension of social media accounts accused of spreading misinformation.

Earlier that day, Brazil‘s foreign ministry summoned the acting US ambassador in response to an embassy statement that supported former President Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil’s Supreme Court has not commented on the matter.

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