Economists have been expressing alarm over U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to hit Brazil with a 50% tariff on Aug. 1 — the largest country-specific levy out of the 22 that Trump has rolled out this week.

President Donald Trump announced a blanket 50% tariff on imports from Brazil, citing his anger over the country's treatment of its former president, Jair Bolsonaro. Trump's tariffs would be imposed using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act,

The president signaled he would seek to use the threat of steep levies to reorient trade and protect his political allies.

One of the highest tariffs threatened by President Trump so far is against Brazil, with the president citing a criminal prosecution against Jair Bolsonaro.

Brazil believes it can withstand Trump’s 50 percent tariff, and aides to Lula say he is unlikely to shrink from a confrontation with the White House.

Blunt letters dictating terms posted to social media and changes late in negotiations have left trading partners wondering what President Trump will do next.

The U.S. dollar rose on Friday, fuelled by upheavals on the global trade landscape, as U.S. President Donald Trump announced more import tariffs, ranging from 35% on neighbouring Canada to plans for blanket levies of 15% or 20% on most trading partners.