In a fiery escalation of U.S.-Brazil tensions, Donald Trump has publicly defended former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, slamming Brazil’s legal proceedings against him as “very unfair.” Trump called Bolsonaro a “good man” and “tough negotiator,

Tensions between the United States and Brazil have suddenly burst open. Brazil’s president promised to reciprocate against President Trump’s tariffs.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump imposed tariffs of between 25 per cent and 30 per cent on Algeria, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. The letters followed threats of 25 per cent tariffs on Japan and South Korea, among others, on Monday.