The US Treasury has lifted sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, measures that had also targeted his wife and a family-linked company. Officials said the decision reflects changing US foreign policy priorities following a diplomatic thaw after high-level talks and the exemption of certain Brazilian exports from a 40% tariff. The move drew criticism from Jair Bolsonaro’s camp, including his son Eduardo, who is facing coercion charges. The development highlights ongoing tensions over judicial independence, trade and political influence in Brazil.
US Treasury Removes Sanctions On Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes After Diplomatic Thaw
The US has lifted sanctions on Brazil Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and his wife as bilateral ties improve (Evaristo Sa)(Evaristo Sa/AFP/AFP)
The US Treasury Department on Friday lifted sanctions targeting Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro. The measures, first announced earlier this year, had also been extended to Moraes’ wife, Viviane Barci de Moraes, and a company linked to the family.
US officials said the decision reflects shifting diplomatic priorities after a recent thaw in relations between Washington and Brasilia. A senior US administration official told AFP that "continued designation is inconsistent with US foreign policy interests."
The easing followed high-level engagement between leaders and a series of diplomatic negotiations after the October meeting between former US President Donald Trump and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. As relations improved, the US also exempted key Brazilian exports from a previously imposed 40 percent tariff tied to the fallout from the trial.
The case that sparked the sanctions remains politically charged: Moraes oversaw proceedings that led to Bolsonaro’s conviction and a 27-year prison sentence for a scheme to try to prevent Lula from taking office after the 2022 election. Bolsonaro’s son, federal lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, spent months lobbying in the United States for sanctions and has since been charged with coercion over alleged efforts to influence the outcome of his father’s trial.
Supporters of Bolsonaro criticized the decision. Eduardo said on social media the lift was received "with regret," blaming a "lack of internal cohesion and the insufficient support for initiatives conducted abroad." Meanwhile, a senior US official welcomed the passage in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies of a bill that could substantially reduce the former president’s prison term.
Although the sanctions have been removed, key issues including judicial independence, social media regulation and trade relations between the US and Brazil remain unsettled and are likely to shape future diplomatic engagement.
