Right-wing Brazilians wanted sanctions against the judge prosecuting Brazil’s former president. President Trump opted for something far bigger — tariffs.

Trump pledged to impose tariffs on Brazil at a rate as high as 50%. He accused the country of "attacks" on US tech companies and of conducting a "witch hunt" against the far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, a longstanding ally who is facing prosecution over his alleged role in a plot to overturn the 2022 Brazilian election.

U.S. President Donald Trump singled out Brazil for import taxes of 50 per cent on Wednesday over its treatment of former president Jair Bolsonaro, suggesting that personal grudges rather than simple economics are playing a part in the U.