Trump twinned his threat to Brazil with the promise of a 50% tariff on copper, which would strike at the economic lifeline of two more Southern neighbors, Chile and Peru. The president capped his week by setting a 30% tariff on Mexican imports as of Aug. 1.

US president’s letter to Brazilian counterpart mentioned trade deficit. But don’t be fooled, these tariffs are political rather than economic.

Jair Bolsonaro had been president of Brazil for only six months when, in 2019, his son Eduardo Bolsonaro began angling for the post of ambassador to the U.S. Just 35 years old at the time, the younger Bolsonaro was a member of Congress,