President Donald Trump has fired a fresh barrage of tariff warning letters to eight countries, warning them to reach trade agreements with the United States before August 1 or face stiff levies on their exports.
In a particularly pointed rebuke, Trump singled out Brazil for what he described as an international disgrace over the ongoing trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro, threatening a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports unless the country reverses course.
“It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote in a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. “The way that Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World during his Term, including by the United States, is an international disgrace.”
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The White House confirmed the letters were sent Wednesday to Brazil, the Philippines, Brunei, Moldova, Algeria, Iraq, Libya, and Sri Lanka. The letters include customized tariff threats ranging from 20% to 50% and follow through on Trump’s broader April 2 “Liberation Day” trade strategy, which called for sweeping tariffs across virtually all U.S. trading partners unless bilateral deals are struck.
Trump accused the governments involved of erecting unfair trade barriers and contributing to what he described as “unsustainable Trade Deficits” that jeopardize both the American economy and national security.
“Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers,” the letters stated. “This Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!”
Each letter opened with near-identical language: “It is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship.”
But the tone quickly turned confrontational, especially in the case of Brazil, which has recently placed former President Bolsonaro on trial over charges linked to election interference.
Trump, who has long maintained a close ideological alignment with Bolsonaro, framed the legal action as a political vendetta. He also used the opportunity to reassert his commitment to defending “Free Elections” and “Free Speech Rights of Americans,” tying Bolsonaro’s prosecution to broader global threats against conservative leaders.
In the same batch of letters, Trump threatened a 20% tariff on the Philippines, 25% on Brunei and Moldova, and 30% on Algeria, Iraq, Libya, and Sri Lanka. He also warned that these rates could be increased if countries retaliate or fail to engage in “good faith” negotiations.
The eight countries are just the latest on Trump’s growing list of trade targets. Earlier this week, he issued similar letters to 14 other nations, including key Asian economies like Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand. Altogether, Trump has now publicly threatened punitive tariffs on 22 countries as part of his restructured “America First” trade agenda.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the aggressive moves during a White House briefing, saying, “They will take the letters seriously because they have taken the president seriously… his phone rings off the hook from world leaders all the time who are begging him to come to a deal.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration has identified 18 key trading partners for negotiations since the April 2 declaration, with several deals already in the works.
“We are close to several deals,” Bessent told CNN, while noting “foot-dragging on the other side.” He said announcements of major agreements could come within days.
So far, Trump has finalized provisional frameworks with the United Kingdom, Vietnam, and a ceasefire agreement with China. While the details remain limited, the UK deal reportedly retains a 10% baseline tariff. The agreement with Vietnam imposes a 20% tariff on direct exports and a much steeper 40% rate on goods believed to be transshipped from China or other third-party nations.
Trump has also reinforced 25% tariffs on automobiles, aluminum, steel, and other imports from Canada and Mexico that do not meet standards under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
The use of trade policy to penalize countries over issues unrelated to commerce—such as Brazil’s judicial proceedings—marks a continued evolution of Trump’s diplomatic strategy. His trade doctrine now blends economic leverage with political messaging, signaling that countries that align ideologically or strategically with the U.S. will receive preferential treatment, while those seen as adversarial will pay a price.
As the August 1 deadline looms, businesses, investors, and foreign governments are scrambling to assess the real-world impact of what many see as a volatile but highly calculated trade campaign.