US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 50 per cent tariff on Brazil, the White House confirmed, as his administration ramps up its aggressive moves amid an intensifying trade dispute between the two countries.
According to a fact sheet released by the White House on Wednesday, the order cites recent policies, actions and practices by the Brazilian government that, in Washington’s view, pose an exceptional and significant threat to US national security, foreign relations and economic interests.
“President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order implementing an additional 40 pc tariff on Brazil, bringing the total tariff amount to 50 pc, to deal with recent policies, practices, and actions by the Government of Brazil that constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States,” the statement said.
The order claims that the Brazilian government’s policies and actions have harmed US businesses and undermined the free speech rights of US citizens, posing a threat to America’s foreign policy and economic interests.
“The Order declares a new national emergency using the President’s authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) and establishes an additional 40 pc tariff to address the Government of Brazil’s unusual and extraordinary policies and actions harming U.S. companies, the free speech rights of U.S. persons, U.S. foreign policy, and the U.S. Economy,” the fact sheet stated.
The White House also alleged that the Brazilian government’s legal measures against former President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters amount to human rights abuses that have weakened the rule of law in the country.
“The Order finds that the Government of Brazil’s politically motivated persecution, intimidation, harassment, censorship, and prosecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and thousands of his supporters are serious human rights abuses that have undermined the rule of law in Brazil,” it said.
Earlier this month, Trump threatened to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Brazilian imports starting August 1st and called for an end to the trial of the far-right leader Bolsonaro, whom he has publicly supported, calling the legal proceedings a “witch hunt”.
The announcement of the tariff hike coincided with fresh US sanctions against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Washington has also announced visa restrictions targeting Moraes and other court officials connected to Bolsonaro’s prosecution.
“The United States is sanctioning Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for serious human rights abuse, including arbitrary detention involving flagrant denials of fair trial guarantees and violations of the freedom of expression,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.
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