The exchange with the South American nation suggests the U.S. president also sees trade as a tool to influence other policies of foreign countries.

By slapping a 50% tariff on Brazil for its criminal investigation of Bolsonaro, the Trump administration is brazenly putting its fingers on the scales of a key foreign election

Starting Aug. 1, the U.S. will charge a 50% tariff on goods shipped into the country from Brazil in part as a response to their treatment of the South American country's former president, Trump said Wednesday.