U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed an additional 40% tariff on goods from the Latin American nation of Brazil, according to a report by Paris-based news agency AFP.
On Wednesday, July 30, the White House announced that Donald Trump signed an executive order related to the additional 40% tariff on Brazilian products. This brings the total tariff imposed by the United States on Brazil to 50%.
A White House statement said that the Brazilian government's politically motivated repression, intimidation, harassment, censorship, and judicial actions against former President Jair Bolsonaro and his thousands of supporters constitute a severe violation of human rights. These actions have weakened the rule of law in Brazil.
The announcement further stated that Brazil's unusual and exceptional policies and actions are harming U.S. businesses, the free speech rights of U.S. citizens, and U.S. foreign policy and economy. The announcement specifically named Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is involved in the trial of Bolsonaro.
According to the AFP report, Brazil and the United States have a century-old trade relationship. Brasília has a trade surplus of $284 million with Washington. However, the White House announcement did not specify when Trump's imposed tariffs would take effect. Trump had previously indicated the tariffs would be effective starting August 1.
