U.S. President Donald Trump said he will impose a 50% tariff on all Brazilian imports starting 1 August, the steepest levy in a list that targets more than 20 trading partners. Questioned by reporters about the rationale for the move—even though the United States currently runs a trade surplus with Brazil—Trump replied, “Because I can. Nobody else would be able to do it.” Trump argued that the tariff would both raise federal revenue and pressure foreign manufacturers to relocate production to the United States. “We want money coming into the U.S.,” he said, adding that companies unwilling to pay the duty could instead “build in the United States” and create domestic jobs. The abrupt justification has drawn scrutiny, as U.S. government data show a surplus of roughly US$1.7 billion with Brazil in the first half of 2025. Brasília is exploring diplomatic channels to reverse the measure, which comes on top of broader tariff actions Washington announced last week, including a 30% surcharge on selected European goods. Trump also linked the decision to what he called a “witch hunt” against former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, though he denied personal friendship with the right-wing leader.