Trump's Tariff Blitz Hits 8 More Nations; Brazil Faces 50% Levy Despite US Trade Surplus

US President Donald Trump has imposed a new round of "reciprocal tariffs" on eight more countries, including Brazil, Sri Lanka, Algeria, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, and the Philippines. Out of all, Brazil faces the steepest penalty, with a 50% import tariff.

Trump made this official by posting formal letters on his social media platform. The letters assign individual tariff rates for each country where he imposed Algeria, Sri Lanka and Iraq received import tax rates of 30%. Brunei, Libya and Moldova got 25% and the Philippines was assigned 20%.

According to the Census Bureau, the US runs a trade deficit of $2.6bn with Sri Lanka, $1.4bn with Algeria, $5.9bn with Iraq, $900mn with Libya, $4.9bn with the Philippines, $111mn with Brunei and $85mn with Moldova.

Despite the United States enjoying a trade surplus of $7.4bn with Brazil, the country received the highest tariff rate. Trump justified the move, citing “grave injustices”, including what he described as Brazil’s censorship of U.S. social media platforms and attacks on democratic institutions.

"Due in part to Brazil’s insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans (as lately illustrated by the Brazilian Supreme Court, which has issued hundreds of SECRET and UNLAWFUL Censorship Orders to U.S. Social Media platforms, threatening them with Millions of Dollars in Fines and Eviction from the Brazilian Social Media market), starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Brazil a Tariff of 50% on any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs," Trump wrote in his letter.

Notably, Trump supported former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right leader, whom he said greatly respected. "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. This Trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!" Trump added.

Trump also stated that 50% tariff is "far less than what is needed to have the Level Playing Field we must have" with Brasilia. "If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 50% that we charge," Trump warned.

However, Trump also said that there will be no tariff if Brazil and its companies decide to build or manufacture products within the US. This is a condition Trump is extending to almost all its trading partners.

In response, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage.

The Trump administration has started sending letters to its trading partners over the week. The other countries that got the tariff letters from Trump so far are Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Serbia, Indonesia, South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Malaysia, Tunisia, Japan, South Korea and Kazakhstan.