The US imposed sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, escalating its targeting of the judge overseeing legal probes into whether former President Jair Bolsonaro attempted a coup after his 2022 election defeat.

On Wednesday, the US made good on its threats to apply 50 per cent tariffs on Brazil two days ahead of schedule and imposed sanctions on the supreme court justice overseeing the criminal case against former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The US also imposed a 50% tariff on Brazil after Trump accused it of "attacks" on US companies and of conducting a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro.