Hold onto your hats, folks—the U.S. just made a surprising U-turn by lifting sanctions on a controversial Brazilian Supreme Court Justice.

On Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department removed Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his wife, and the Lex Institute, which she heads, from its sanctions list, Newsmax reported. 

Let’s backtrack to see how this unfolded. In July, the Trump administration targeted de Moraes with sanctions, claiming he greenlit arbitrary detentions and muzzled free speech in Brazil.

Why Sanctions Hit Moraes Initially

They even cited the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, a law designed to punish corruption and human rights abuses, to support their stance.

The real trigger was de Moraes’ key role in the trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro faced charges of scheming to stay in power after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Sound familiar? Those accusations mirror the legal troubles of former President Donald Trump after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, and Bolsonaro’s conviction landed him over 27 years in prison, which he began serving last month.

Bolsonaro’s Fall and U.S. Economic Moves

The U.S. didn’t just stop at sanctions—they threw economic punches too. In July, they tacked on a 40% tariff to Brazilian goods, atop an earlier 10% tariff, calling Brazil’s prosecution of Bolsonaro an “economic emergency.”

Then, last month, a sliver of relief came when Trump ordered the removal of some extra tariffs on Brazilian agribusiness products.

Now, with sanctions on de Moraes and his family gone, everyone’s asking: Why the change of heart? The Treasury Department isn’t talking, leaving us to speculate.

De Moraes Fires Back at U.S. Policy

De Moraes didn’t hold back when the sanctions first dropped. He slammed the use of the Global Magnitsky Act against him as “illegal and regrettable,” a bold swipe at Uncle Sam’s playbook.

That “illegal and regrettable” jab stings, but let’s cut through the noise—this reeks of political gamesmanship. From a conservative angle, those initial sanctions felt like a fair push against a judiciary seemingly hell-bent on burying a populist like Bolsonaro.

Yet, pulling back now might signal a wiser tack, admitting that targeting a judge and his family personally won’t fix Brazil’s deeper policy issues. It’s less stick, more carrot—or at least a pause for thought.

Navigating U.S.-Brazil Relations Ahead

Those wary of progressive overreach might still see de Moraes’ rulings as a red flag for judicial overstep, especially when free expression takes a hit. But let’s be fair: the U.S. easing off personal sanctions could shift focus to bigger diplomatic debates.

Don’t forget the economic fallout—those tariffs, even partly lifted, stung Brazilian farmers more than politicians. A conservative lens might hail the tariff rollback as a return to market-friendly principles over heavy-handed penalties.

So, what’s next? The U.S. has softened its stance on sanctions and some tariffs, but the rift with Brazil over judicial moves and political trials isn’t resolved, hinting at more chapters in this saga.