On July 30, 2025, the United States sharply escalated its diplomatic conflict with Brazil by imposing sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and enacting a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods. These moves mark an unprecedented intervention in Brazil’s judicial affairs and trade relations, centering on de Moraes’s oversight of the criminal prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces charges of orchestrating a coup attempt to overturn Brazil’s 2022 election results.
Justice de Moraes stands accused by the U.S. Treasury Department of leading an "oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions," including actions against Bolsonaro and his allies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent invoked the Global Magnitsky Act, a law designed to sanction foreign individuals responsible for human rights abuses or corruption, to justify freezing any assets de Moraes might hold in the U.S. and prohibiting American entities from engaging in transactions with him. Bessent stated, "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." The sanctions also revoke de Moraes’s U.S. visa, though it was reported that he lacks U.S. bank accounts or property.
The sanctions follow earlier U.S. visa restrictions imposed in mid-July by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on de Moraes, his family, and other unnamed Brazilian Supreme Court officials. Rubio had earlier advocated for such penalties, emphasizing that judicial robes do not shield individuals from accountability for human rights violations.
Simultaneously, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports, effective August 6, 2025, two days ahead of schedule. This tariff, the highest Trump has imposed this year, exempts key Brazilian exports such as commercial aircraft, energy products, and orange juice, reflecting a partial softening from initial threats. Trump justified the tariff citing Brazil’s "political persecution" of his ally Bolsonaro and the "illegal censorship of conservative voices online," asserting that Brazil’s government and Supreme Court actions "threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States." Previously, Trump linked the tariffs directly to what he termed a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned these U.S. actions as "unjustifiable" interference in Brazil’s judicial independence and sovereignty. In a statement, Lula expressed solidarity with Justice de Moraes, describing the sanctions as politically motivated efforts by "Brazilian politicians who betray our country and our people in defence of their own interests." Lula emphasized, "The political motivation behind the measures against Brazil undermines national sovereignty and the historical relationship between the two countries." He also voiced Brazil’s willingness to negotiate trade issues separately, stating, "If [Trump] wants to have a political fight, then let’s treat it as a political fight. If he wants to talk trade, let’s sit down and discuss trade. But you can’t mix everything together." The Brazilian Treasury Secretary, Rogerio Ceron, downplayed the tariff’s economic impact, noting, "We’re not facing the worst-case scenario." Nevertheless, Lula’s administration has considered retaliatory tariffs on American products, signaling potential escalation in trade tensions.
The controversy centers on Justice de Moraes’s role in prosecuting Bolsonaro, who is accused of masterminding a coup plot involving plans to dismantle courts, hand special powers to the military, and even assassinate political rivals, including Lula and de Moraes himself. Bolsonaro denies knowledge of assassination plans but admits to exploring constitutional means to retain power after his electoral defeat. Following Bolsonaro’s departure from office, thousands of his supporters stormed Brazil’s government buildings in an event reminiscent of the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.
Justice de Moraes has become one of Brazil’s most polarizing figures. Known for his vigorous defense of Brazil’s democracy, he has taken extraordinary measures to combat misinformation and threats to the political order. These include ordering the removal of hundreds of social media accounts deemed to spread hate speech or illegal content and jailing individuals without trial for online threats. Such actions have drawn criticism from conservative factions both within Brazil and abroad, including billionaire Elon Musk and supporters of Bolsonaro, who accuse de Moraes of authoritarian overreach.
Brazil’s Supreme Court has staunchly defended de Moraes. Justice Flávio Dino publicly expressed "personal solidarity," affirming that de Moraes is "simply doing his job, in a way that is just and honest, in accordance with the Brazilian constitution." The court maintains that the Bolsonaro case involves a "serious attack on Brazilian democracy" and falls within the judiciary’s exclusive jurisdiction. Brazilian cabinet member Gleisi Hoffmann condemned the U.S. sanctions as a "violent and arrogant act," reflecting the government’s firm repudiation of what it views as foreign interference.
Legal analysts have expressed surprise at the application of the Magnitsky Act to a foreign Supreme Court justice engaged in legitimate judicial proceedings. Initially intended to target egregious human rights violators such as those responsible for extrajudicial killings or corruption, the act’s use against de Moraes represents a notable expansion. The Treasury Department cited a 2017 executive order broadening the definition of human rights abuses to include arbitrary arrests and political rights violations, though this interpretation remains untested in such contexts.
The diplomatic dispute has been fueled by Bolsonaro’s son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who has lobbied the U.S. government extensively for sanctions against de Moraes and other judges. Eduardo hailed the sanctions as a "historic day," expressing gratitude to Trump and Rubio for their "courage." Meanwhile, Lula has vowed not to succumb to what he calls "bullying" by the United States, underscoring Brazil’s judicial independence as enshrined in its constitution.
As the trial of Jair Bolsonaro approaches, the Trump administration’s aggressive support for the former president underscores the deep ideological and political rift between the two countries. While the tariffs and sanctions may have limited immediate economic impact due to exemptions and de Moraes’s lack of U.S. assets, they symbolize a significant rupture in U.S.-Brazil relations, with the potential to reshape trade and diplomatic ties in the Western Hemisphere’s two largest democracies.
