Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on Brazil over its domestic political affairs, the most extreme case yet of the US president weaponizing trade policy to make unrelated demands.

Relations between the U.S. and Brazil deteriorated after President Trump sought to halt criminal proceedings against his right-wing ally in the country, former leader Jair Bolsonaro, by imposing steep tariffs on Latin America’s biggest nation.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the U.S. would impose a 50% tariff on all imports from Brazil after a spat this week with his Brazilian counterpart who called him an unwanted "emperor." Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva fired back on Wednesday,