The U.S. just walked back one of its more controversial diplomatic moves, lifting sanctions on a Brazilian Supreme Court justice who'd become an unlikely flashpoint in relations between Washington and Brasilia. It's the latest sign that things are warming up between President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after a pretty frosty few months.
The Sanctions Reversal
On Friday, the Treasury Department announced it removed sanctions against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. He's the judge who oversaw the criminal prosecution that resulted in former President Jair Bolsonaro being convicted and imprisoned for trying to overturn Brazil's 2022 election results.
The sanctions, imposed earlier this year under the Global Magnitsky Act, also targeted Moraes' wife, Viviane Barci, and the Lex Institute, a financial entity connected to his family members. All of those designations are now gone.
What Was This All About?
The Trump administration had accused Moraes of abusing his judicial authority, claiming he authorized arbitrary detentions and restricted free speech while handling the Bolsonaro case. Trump himself called the prosecution politically motivated and dismissed it as a "witch hunt."
Those penalties didn't exactly help U.S.-Brazil relations. They came right alongside steep American tariffs on Brazilian exports, creating a multilayered diplomatic headache that both countries now seem eager to resolve.
The Diplomatic Thaw
The timing here matters. The U.S. has started rolling back tariffs on Brazilian goods, and Trump and Lula recently had what Trump described as a "productive" phone call. Clearly, both sides decided the tension wasn't worth it anymore.
Lula said Friday he directly asked Trump to lift the sanctions, framing it as a matter of national interest rather than personal politics. According to Reuters, he told Trump the move would strengthen Brazilian democracy. A source in Brazil's presidency emphasized that no concessions were made—this wasn't a quid pro quo situation, just a straightforward request.
Moraes Responds
Speaking at an event in Sao Paulo, Moraes welcomed the decision, calling it a victory for Brazil's democratic institutions, legal system, and sovereignty. He thanked Lula for stepping in on behalf of himself and his family.
Brazilian markets reacted modestly to the news. The iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (EWZ) posted gains of 0.48% during regular trading and another 0.18% in after-hours action.
The Elon Musk Connection
Worth noting: in 2024, Brazilian authorities temporarily banned Elon Musk's social platform X following disputes with de Moraes over court-ordered account restrictions. The platform eventually complied with legal requirements and resumed operations in Brazil.
The whole episode shows how quickly diplomatic weather can change, especially when trade interests and political relationships intersect. What looked like an entrenched standoff a few weeks ago now appears to be water under the bridge.