WASHINGTON — The U.S. government has announced a sweeping economic action against Brazil, enacting a new 40 percent tariff in response to what it calls “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to national security. President Donald Trump signed the executive order on Wednesday, invoking emergency powers to address a growing list of grievances related to censorship, suppression of political dissent, and interference with American companies.
The executive order cites Brazil’s internal judicial conduct as a direct challenge to American interests. It accuses the Brazilian government of undermining the rule of law, targeting political dissidents, and restricting constitutionally protected speech—even when that speech occurs on U.S. soil.
The new tariff increases the total duty on Brazilian imports to 50 percent, combining the new measure with the existing 10 percent baseline. The administration’s goal, officials say, is to impose real consequences for foreign actions that threaten the United States’ economy and the liberties of its people.
The Treasury Department emphasized the central role of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is accused of widespread abuse of judicial authority. According to the administration, de Moraes authorized politically driven arrests, seized bank accounts and passports, and launched criminal investigations into speech he found unfavorable.
“He has also authorized the confiscation of passports, jailed individuals without trial for social media posts, opened unprecedented criminal investigations, including into United States citizens for their constitutionally protected speech in the United States,” the order states. The White House also noted that de Moraes issued secret orders to U.S. tech platforms to censor thousands of posts and suspend critics, some of whom were American citizens.
One specific case mentioned by the administration is the prosecution of Paulo Figueiredo, a Brazilian journalist based in the U.S., whose commentary in America drew the attention of Brazilian authorities. The administration claims de Moraes threatened U.S. companies with fines and criminal prosecution when they failed to comply with his censorship demands.
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent issued a sharp statement: “De Moraes is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions — including against former President Jair Bolsonaro. Today’s action makes clear that Treasury will continue to hold accountable those who threaten U.S. interests and the freedoms of our citizens.”
The administration also accused the Brazilian government of forcing American companies to modify their content moderation policies under threat of fines and market exclusion. These actions, according to U.S. officials, cross a red line by attempting to control speech within American borders.
