US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a whopping import tariff on Brazil, partly due to its treatment of his political ally and former president, Jair Bolsonaro - and it could have a major impact on your morning routine.
Beginning August 1, Brazil will be forced to pay a 50 percent levy on all imports into the United States despite previously enjoying a trade surplus with the US and being exempt from tariffs that other countries face.
Trump, 79, announced the levies on Wednesday (July 9) by sharing a copy of a letter he sent to the 39th president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The newly-revealed legislation follows a slew of other letters to world leaders sent by Trump.
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It’s understood that these letters detail exactly how much tax countries can expect to pay on goods imported into the US from next month.
The two-page address, which was uploaded to Trump’s social media site Truth Social, claimed Brazil’s treatment of its former president Bolsonaro was one of the main factors behind the new 50 percent tariff.
Bolsonaro, who is standing trial for allegedly attempting a coup against Lula following his election victory, was described by Trump as a ‘strong leader’ who ‘truly loved his country’.
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“I knew and dealt with former President Jair Bolsonaro, and respected him greatly, as did most other Leaders of Countries,” the letter’s opening paragraph reads.
“The way Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World during his Term, including by the United States, is an international disgrace.”
Trump wrote that, in his eyes, the ex-president’s trial should ‘not be taking place’, branding it as a ‘witch hunt’ that should end ‘immediately’.
The address further accused the Brazilian government of ‘insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans’, including censorship of ‘U.S. Social Media platforms'.
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“Starting August 1, 2025, we will charge Brazil a Tariff of 50 percent on any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States,” Trump continued.
Unfortunately, as Brazil supplies a third of the US’ coffee, this could have a major financial impact on your morning cup of joe, Reuters reported.
According to industry groups, annual Brazilian coffee exports to the US are close to eight million bags.
Your morning routine may be disrupted further because more than half of the orange juice sold in the US comes from Brazil, according to the publication.
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Trump stated that the United States has had ‘years to discuss [its] Trading Relationship with Brazil’.
However, his administration has now reportedly: “Concluded that we must move away from the longstanding, and very unfair trade relationship engendered by Brazil's Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal.”
Following the public statement, Lula has responded via Twitter.
"Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage,” he wrote in response to Trump’s claims.
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“The judicial proceedings against those responsible for planning the coup d’état fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of Brazil's Judicial Branch and, as such, are not subject to any interference or threats that could compromise the independence of national institutions.”
Brazilian Minister of Institutional Affairs Gleisi Hoffmann also criticised Trump, saying: “The time when Brazil was subservient to the US was the time of Bolsonaro."
She added: "The US president should take care of his own problems, which are not few, and respect the sovereignty of Brazil and our judiciary."
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Trump initially announced he would impose a slew of ‘reciprocal’ duties on countries across the globe on April 2.
The address, which took place in the White House Rose Garden on what was dubbed ‘Liberation Day’, originally saw countries like the United Kingdom being handed a 10 percent import tariff.
Letters were sent earlier this month to countries informing them of new ‘reciprocal tariff’ rates that would begin August 1 unless they secured a deal.
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Money, Coffee, Food and Drink, Politics
Ella Scott