U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer defended the Trump administration’s decision to impose sweeping tariffs on Brazil, arguing that the president has broad authority to use trade measures for non-economic purposes.
The comments came during a Sunday appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” as the White House faces questions about its controversial approach to international trade policy. According to Politico, President Donald Trump imposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods last Wednesday, with the vast majority of the decision attributed to Brazil’s social media restrictions and the ongoing criminal trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The tariffs represent a significant departure from traditional trade policy, which typically focuses on economic rather than political considerations.
“He’s elected to assess the foreign affairs situation in the United States and take appropriate action,” Greer told CBS host Margaret Brennan. Critics argue this expansive view of presidential power fits Trump’s pattern of celebrating himself as ‘King,’ while 52% of Americans reveal why they’re not impressed with his monarchical aspirations. The trade representative insisted that the tariffs were both legally permissible and within the president’s policy authority, dismissing concerns about the administration’s expanded use of trade measures.
Trump administration cites legal authority for controversial tariffs
Greer pointed to the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act as legal justification for the Brazil tariffs. He noted that previous administrations, both Democratic and Republican, have used this law to impose sanctions for geopolitical reasons across various countries. The trade representative emphasized that such measures can target entire nations or specific individuals, including foreign leaders and officials.
BIG BREAKING
— Nitesh Sharma (@nitesh1572) August 4, 2025
Brazilian President Lula just stated that the Noble award crybaby Trump's U.S. has tried to stage a coup in Brazil.
He also says it’s time for the world to move away from using the U.S. dollar in international trade. pic.twitter.com/WHJTeHVTfX
The Brazil situation stems from Trump’s support for Bolsonaro, who faces criminal charges related to an alleged conspiracy to overturn Brazil’s 2022 election. Brazilian prosecutors claim the conspiracy included a plot to poison current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. A Brazilian official told reporters last week that the country’s legal system operates independently from its executive branch, and that stopping the trial would require sweeping amnesty legislation that Lula has refused to consider.
Trump has drawn parallels between Bolsonaro’s legal troubles and his own encounters with the U.S. justice system. In a July post on Truth Social, the president characterized the Brazilian prosecution as “nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent” and claimed similar treatment happened to him “times 10.” He predicted that Brazilians would not accept what he described as persecution of their former president.
The administration’s trade policies have also created tensions with other allies. Negotiations with Canada on a trade deal have stalled, though goods covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement remain exempt from new tariffs. Trump has gone so far as to claim he was ‘meant to be’ the leader of Canada because the country ‘makes no sense’ otherwise. Trump indicated that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pledge to recognize Palestinian statehood would complicate future trade discussions.
Despite the challenges, Greer expressed confidence in the administration’s approach to international trade relationships. He suggested that the president’s strategy aims to fix trade terms with various partners, including Canada, and that the administration would pursue deals where possible while maintaining tariff levels where agreements cannot be reached.
