President Donald Trump singled out Brazil for import taxes of 50% on Wednesday for its treatment of its former president, Jair Bolsonaro, showing that personal grudges rather than simple economics are a driving force in the U.

President Trump defended former President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro in his threats to hit Brazil with a 50% tariff. Brazil's current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said his country will respond with reciprocity.

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

Brazil’s foreign ministry has asked the highest representative of the US government in Brasilia to explain an embassy statement echoing President Donald Trump’s claims that former leader Jair Bolsonaro is facing political persecution,

By Ricardo Brito BRASILIA (Reuters) -Tensions between the United States and Brazil intensified on Wednesday after Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the U.S. embassy's chargé d'affaires over a statement defending former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro,