Itamaraty minimized US concern with Bolsonaro, says Trump official
In the letter announced the rates against Brazil on July 9, Trump called “witch hunt” the judicial process to which former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) responds. Among other crimes, he is accused of attempting violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law – which he denies. In addition, Trump accused the Supreme Court (STF) of censoring US citizens and harming the commercial interests of American Big Techs. Since the letter’s release, Trump management and the president himself repeated the argument that Bolsonaro is a political persecuted.
The statements echo the content of the campaign made months in Washington by federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) and political commentator Paulo Figueiredo for punishments to Brazil who can force the country’s authorities to approve a amnesty to Bolsonaro, their allies and their supporters.
In addition to tariffs, the US began an investigation in alleged unfair trade practices in Brazil, and the State Department announced restriction of access to US territory to STF Minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the lawsuit against Bolsonaro, and what he called “his allies of the Court”, in reference to seven other ministers and Paulo Gonet, Attorney General of the Republic. But Washington’s new actions are expected by both pockets and Itamaraty. A source from the US government told the column already seen the written form to impose financial sanctions on Global Magnitsky law against Moraes.
“President Trump was clear and the US government has a wide range of tools that can – and will – use to promote their priorities. Moraes and his class have only witnessed the beginning of it. This is far from over,” this Trump government source said.
So far, Trump has chosen not to open conversations between the White House and the Plateau to try to reduce the bilateral crisis. The Brazilian government continues to make efforts to sensitize republican management and bet especially on US GDP heavyweights, which will have their business affected by tariff to unlock the channel.
Trump has already mobilized tariffs as an instrument of diplomatic and commercial pressure against nearly two hundred countries, including allies and opponents. But in none of these cases, the Republican required interference with the country’s judiciary to open negotiation. So far, the Brazilian government has not done and states that it will not make political or judicial concessions to the United States. In Brasilia, such a condition for negotiation is seen as extortion.
