U.S. discusses new sanctions on Brazil judge Alexandre de Moraes, FT reports

The Trump administration is considering reimposing sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes under the Global Magnitsky Act, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, as U.S.-Brazil relations worsen amid a trade dispute. U.S. officials cited what they described as a consistent pattern of abuse involving press freedom and individual rights, including allegations that Moraes led an oppressive campaign of censorship, authorized arbitrary detentions and recently ordered police raids targeting a journalist and the journalist's sources. American officials reportedly viewed that move as impinging on free speech rights. Moraes was sanctioned by Washington last year and later removed from the list, but officials told the newspaper the underlying concerns never went away. The report said critics inside the administration view Moraes as an enemy who has targeted supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump and conservative activists in Brazil. The renewed sanctions discussion comes as Washington and Brasilia clash over trade, with the United States recently imposing a 25% tariff on numerous Brazilian goods after previously using a 50% tariff to pressure the government to drop the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, whose trial was presided over by Moraes. The White House and State Department declined to comment, while Brazil's Supreme Court had yet to issue a statement, the Financial Times said.

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