Trump Unleashes Dual Tariff Threats: 50% on Brazil Over Bolsonaro Trial, Copper Imports Targeted
Trump Unleashes Dual Tariff Threats: 50% on Brazil Over Bolsonaro Trial, Copper Imports Targeted
US President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated global trade tensions, threatening Brazil with a crippling 50% tariff on its goods, effective August 1. The extraordinary demand, conveyed in a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is explicitly linked to Trump’s insistence that Brazil halt what he labels a “Witch Hunt” against former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently facing trial for allegedly attempting to stage a coup against Lula.
Brazilian President Lula swiftly condemned the threat, asserting his nation’s sovereignty and vowing to implement Brazil’s Law of Economic Reciprocity should Trump proceed. This marks a notable instance of a country directly threatening retaliation against Trump’s tariff demands.
Brazil is just one of several nations facing Trump’s latest tariff wave. This week, countries including the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Moldova, Brunei, Algeria, Libya, and Iraq have also received letters outlining new tariff rates, some reaching as high as 30%. These measures are slated to take effect on August 1, following an extension of the initial negotiation deadline. Trump has consistently offered a pathway to avoid these tariffs: countries or companies can bypass the levies by manufacturing products within the United States.
In a separate but equally significant move, President Trump also announced a 50% tariff on all copper imports, effective August 1, 2025. Citing national security concerns, Trump stated the measure is aimed at revitalizing America’s copper industry. The announcement, made via Truth Social, follows a Commerce Department assessment and has already sent copper futures surging to record highs. However, some analysts express skepticism about the tariffs’ immediate impact on domestic mining and warn of potential cost increases for US industries and consumers reliant on the vital metal.
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