The president typically ties his tariffs to trade policy, but he hit Brazilian products with the highest rate of any country's goods largely due to politics.

The Trump administration escalated its pressure campaign against Brazil, raising tariffs on the country to 50% and freezing U.S. assets belonging to a judge overseeing criminal proceedings against former leader Jair Bolsonaro.

President Donald Trump ordered massive tariffs on Brazil Wednesday and sanctions against the judge overseeing a trial of his far-right ally Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of attempting a coup in Latin America's biggest economy.