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

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says he will impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States if President Donald Trump follows through on a pledge to boost import taxes by 50%

The White House concluded that non-tariff methods for punishing Brazil would take too long, two people familiar with the situation said.