Brazilian President Lula da Silva vowed to trigger Brazil's reciprocity law if negotiations with the U.S. fail.

Brazil said Wednesday it had summoned the US charge d'affaires in a diplomatic row following President Donald Trump's criticism of the coup trial of his right-wing ally, ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro.The foreign ministry in Brasilia told AFP that envoy Gabriel Escobar will be called to explain an embassy statement describing Bolsonaro as a victim of "political persecution" -- echoing Trump's claims of a "witch hunt" against the 70-year-old Brazilian firebrand.

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,

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

That praise, which Trump is likely to repeat during his visit to the flood-ravaged Texas Hill Country on Friday, is a far cry from Trump's harsh criticism of elected Democrats in California when wildfires devastated Los Angeles in January.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tour the Texas flood devastation and the State Department begins laying employees.