The fight is rooted in years of political history between President Trump and the last two presidents of Brazil.

The United States has launched an investigation into “unfair” trading practices by Brazil, escalating President Donald Trump’s spat with the world’s 10th-largest economy over issues including the criminal case against its former President Jair Bolsonaro.

President Donald Trump put Brazilian politics front-and-center Wednesday in a letter declaring a new 50% tariff on U.S. imports from the Latin American nation set to begin Aug. 1, citing mistreatment of longtime ally and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

Kevin Hassett, a top economic advisor to President Trump, was out defending the administration's threat of a 50% tariff on imports from Brazil. The U.S. has a trade surplus with Brazil, in contrast to