“President Trump’s threat for a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports expanded his use of punitive duties over matters that have nothing to do with trade, breaking with more than a half-century of global economic precedent,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Trump cited the trial of the president’s close political ally, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, as the rationale for new tariffs set to take effect Aug. 1 on imports from the largest economy in Latin America.”

“It is one of the latest—and perhaps most brazen—examples of Trump using tariffs as a cudgel for political priorities outside of trade.”

President Trump said he plans to make a “major statement” on Russia, as the U.S. prepares to send more American weapons to Ukraine via purchases from NATO allies, Bloomberg reports.

“President Donald Trump said Thursday he plans to impose blanket tariffs of 15% or 20% on most trade partners, dismissing concerns that further tariffs could negatively affect the stock market or drive inflation,” NBC News reports.

Said Trump: “We’re just going to say all of the remaining countries are going to pay, whether it’s 20% or 15%. We’ll work that out now.”

“Blanket tariffs are currently set at 10%.”

However, Bloomberg reports Trump will levy a 35% tariff on goods coming into the US from Canada.

“President Donald Trump for the first time since returning to office will send weapons to Kyiv under a presidential power frequently used by his predecessor, a move suggesting new interest by the president in defending Ukraine,” Reuters reports.

“State Department employees are bracing for mass layoffs as soon as Friday after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to proceed with reorganization and downsizing,” Semafor reports.

“The high court on Tuesday lifted a lower-court judge’s decision that had blocked the planned layoffs, which could number in the thousands.”