Bruna Santos, director of the Brazil Program at the Inter-American Dialogue: “Trump’s decision to impose 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian imports, alongside sanctions on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, have sharply strained U.S.-Brazil relations. Trump’s demands of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are institutionally unworkable. Unlike past cases, such as U.S. efforts to curb fentanyl in Mexico, this is not a transactional issue, but rather one tied to Brazil’s constitutional order, leaving Brasília with no clear exit. Despite some exemptions, Brazil remains exposed. It lacks strong interlocutors in Washington and has no permanent industry presence. Options include seeking sectoral exemptions, mobilizing U.S. companies that rely on Brazilian inputs, exploring concessions such as digital regulation adjustments and a challenge at the WTO, although its dispute mechanism remains stalled due to U.S. resistance. Still, a formal…”