He was slow to respond, and when he did, his words were cautious at best. Jair Bolsonaro took an entire night to reflect before commenting on the bombshell announcement made by Donald Trump on July 9: a plan to raise tariffs on all Brazilian exports to the US to 50%. The American billionaire said he was motivated by the legal troubles facing his ally, who is being prosecuted for attempting a coup and faces up to 43 years in prison.

"This decision is a direct consequence of Brazil's drift from its historic commitments to freedom and the rule of law," Bolsonaro said in a statement posted on social media on July 10. The former far-right president did praise "the firmness and courage" of his "friend" Trump, but carefully avoided any triumphalism, calling instead for a way out of the crisis. "It is still possible to save Brazil," he concluded gravely.

For this nationalist leader, it was impossible to publicly welcome sanctions imposed on his own country. Only 12% of Brazil's exports go to the United States (compared with 30% to China), but the country still sells significant quantities of oil, aircraft and semi-finished iron and steel products there – sectors that are remnants of a struggling industry and could be hit hard by US tariffs.

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