By Nandita Bose, Bernardo Caram and Gabriel AraujoWASHINGTON/BRASILIA/SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil's government on Friday downplayed the impact of the 50% tariff U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose on imports from that country,

Brazil’s President forcefully rebuked Trump after the U.S. leader called the prosecution of Lula’s predecessor, Bolsonaro, a “witch hunt” and hiked tariffs on the Latin American nation.

"It will be very disappointing if the Brazilian episcopate fails to express its opinion against such an unprecedented attack," one activist said. "But the laypeople of the social pastoral ministries won't fail and will keep struggling.