The measure is aimed at addressing the alleged \u201cthreat\u201d Brazil poses to the US, according to the American leader<\/p>\n\n\n\n
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 50% tariff on all goods from Brazil effective August 1, claiming the country poses a threat to \u201cthe national security, foreign policy, and economy\u201d of the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Signed on Wednesday, the order hikes the existing tariff on Brazil by 40% and accuses the South American nation of various violations, including alleged \u201cserious human rights abuses that have undermined the rule of law.\u201d Trump singled out the persecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing trial over allegedly plotting a coup following his 2022 election defeat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMembers of the Government of Brazil are also politically persecuting a former President of Brazil, which is contributing to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law in Brazil, to politically motivated intimidation in that country, and to human rights abuses,\u201d the order states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump announced his intention to impose a blanket 50% tariff on all Brazilian goods earlier this month in a letter posted on Truth Social. In the letter, the US president also demanded an end to what he called a \u201cwitch hunt\u201d against the \u201chighly respected\u201d ex-president Bolsonaro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the time, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva vowed to answer the tariff measure and defend the interests of his country, pointing out that Trump \u201cwas elected to govern the US \u2013 he was not elected to be the emperor of the world.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I read the letter, I thought it was fake news,\u201d Lula said, describing it as \u201cbreaking away from any protocol, any liturgy, that should exist between the relations between two heads of state.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump has previously threatened an additional 10% tariff on all BRICS nations, accusing the bloc of trying to \u201cdestroy the dollar as the global standard.\u201d Earlier on Wednesday, he targeted another member of the group, India, announcing that it will face 25% tariffs and additional penalties for continuing to trade with Russia. Responding to the move, New Delhi said it would take \u201call steps necessary\u201d to secure its interests and expressed its commitment to \u201cconcluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement\u201d with the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n