JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump charges 50% of Brazil's goods to fight what he calls a "witch hunt" against former President Jair Bolsonaro.
However, this heavy tariff is excluded by sectors such as airplanes, energy, and orange juice.
Trump announced the trade rate which is one of the heaviest tariffs ever to be imposed on any country in the US trade war.
His administration also announced sanctions against Brazilian Supreme Court justices who have overseen Bolsonaro's trial on charges of planning a coup.
"Alexandre de Moraes has taken responsibility for being a judge and a judge in the illegal hunt for US and Brazilian citizens and companies," Finance Minister Scott Bessent said in a statement.
Bessent said Moraes was responsible for repressive censorship operations, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions including against former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Last week, Brazilian courts issued a search and warrant for Bolsonaro's detention on charges that he requested Trump's interference in his criminal case, in which he was accused of conspiring to stop President Luiz Inighcio Lula da Silva from taking office in 2023.
Trump's final tariff order and sanctions follow weeks of debate with Lula, who likened the US president, a close ideological ally of Bolsonaro, to an unwanted "kaisar".
On Wednesday, Lula and her government supported Moraes, calling US sanctions "unacceptable."
"The Brazilian government considers the use of political arguments to defend trade measures announced by the US government against Brazilian exports to be unjustified," the Brazilian government said in a statement.
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Lula insists Brazil is willing to negotiate trade with the US, but will not give up on the tools it has to defend itself, hinting that retaliation may occur.
However, Trump's tariff order threatens if Brazil retaliates, the US will also increase the stakes.
Although Trump is trying to use tariffs to change the direction of a crucial criminal trial, these various exceptions relieve many people in Brasilia.
"We are not facing the worst-case scenario," Brazilian Finance Minister Rogerio Ceron told reporters.
The new rate will take effect on August 6, not on Friday as Trump previously announced.
Trump's executive order to inaugurate a 50% tariff excludes dozens of major Brazilian exports to the United States, including civilian aircraft, rough iron, precious metals, wood porridge, energy, and fertilizer.
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