Trump threatens Brazil with tariffs over Amazon deforestation despite climate change denial

President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change a hoax, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over Amazon deforestation. The U.S. Trade Representative launched a Section 301 investigation into Brazil's trade practices, citing illegal logging and land clearing that rely on forced labor and undermine competition. The Amazon absorbs massive amounts of carbon dioxide, making deforestation a key climate issue. The irony is hard to miss. Trump's administration has opposed the European Union Deforestation Regulation and defunded renewable energy subsidies. Now it is using deforestation as a justification for tariffs, a move trade experts say is more about political leverage than environmental concern. The tariffs add 12.5% on Brazilian imports and come as Trump faces legal limits on other tariff authorities. For carbon markets and climate policy watchers, this story highlights how deforestation can become a trade weapon, even when the administration driving it rejects climate science. It also shows the growing intersection of trade policy and environmental enforcement, a trend that could reshape how countries approach forest protection and carbon accounting.