Photograph Source: Isac Nóbrega/PR – CC BY 2.0

In one of the most bizarre episodes in the history of international trade, President Donald Trump this week announced that 50% tariffs would be imposed on Brazil—a country that has a trade surplus with the United States and is one of its most important importers of coffee, orange juice, and petroleum—solely on the condition that it drop charges against criminal defendant, former Brazilian president, and personal friend of Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro is currently facing a possible prison sentence of up to 40 years for attempting a military coup after losing the 2022 elections.

I would like to suggest that, in the spirit of BRICS, Bolsonaro be immediately transferred to house arrest in China, where he can await his democratically guaranteed right to a trial, which has now moved into its final stages. This may sound outlandish, and even a violation of international law, but the United States has never been a country that respects international law as its recent bombing of Iran proves. Furthermore, it has a long history of........

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