Trump’s move deepens a rift between two North American countries that have suffered a debilitating blow to their decades-old alliance.

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

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.

Critics say the tariff on Brazil could further erode the Trump administration's credibility as it pursues an aggressive trade agenda.

BRASILIA/SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil's government expects the 50% tariff U.S. President Donald Trump announced earlier this week on all goods from the South American country to have little impact on its economic growth this year, it said on Friday.

The twists and turns in U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies have not only rattled global financial markets but have also taken investors on a roller-coaster ride. Adding to the uncertainty are tariff-related legal challenges and Trump's assertion that he would hammer out bilateral deals with trade partners.

President Donald Trump has sent letters this week outlining higher tariffs countries will face if they don’t make trade deals with the U.S. by Aug. 1.