Brazil’s finance minister Fernando Haddad said the 50% tariff on all Brazilian exports announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on 9 July is politically motivated and lacks any economic justification. The surcharge, due to take effect on 1 August, marks a sharp escalation from the 10% duty threatened earlier in the week and targets a trading partner that the United States already runs a surplus with, Haddad noted. Citing a Brazilian trade deficit of more than US$400 billion with the United States over the past 15 years, the minister called the measure “unsustainable” both economically and politically and predicted it will not be maintained. He said the Itamaraty will lead technical talks with Washington to try to reverse the decision, arguing that a trade war would hurt supply chains on both sides, including aircraft manufacturing. Haddad blamed allies of former president Jair Bolsonaro—specifically Bolsonaro’s son, congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro—for lobbying the Trump administration, characterising the tariff as an “attack on Brazilian sovereignty”. He also rebuked São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas for endorsing Trump’s stance, calling him a “candidate to vassal”. The minister warned that the announcement has already fuelled market volatility, with the real weakening after the news.