US President Donald Trump triggered a new chapter in his escalating global trade war on Wednesday by announcing an exorbitant 50% tariff on Brazilian exports, accusing the country of political persecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
The move prompted an immediate backlash from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who called the tariffs unjustified and promised retaliation.
Trump announced in a public statement that Brazil’s trade practices with the US were “far from reciprocal,” and criticized its handling of Bolsonaro’s ongoing legal troubles.
Bolsonaro is currently on trial for attempting to overturn his 2022 election defeat, a case Trump described as a “witch-hunt.”
In response, President Lula condemned the tariffs and underscored Brazil’s sovereignty. “Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage,” he said. Lula also rejected Trump’s accusations, calling them “inaccurate,” and pledged that the new US tariffs “will be addressed.”
Lula convened top ministers early Thursday to devise a response strategy. His chief of staff’s office announced the formation of a team tasked with drafting a plan to counter the tariffs, which are scheduled to take effect on August 1.
Trump warned of further consequences if Brazil retaliates. In a letter to Lula, made public on social media, Trump wrote, “If for any reason you decide to raise your tariffs, then whatever the number you choose to raise them by will be added onto the 50% that we charge.”
Brazil is the US’s 15th-largest trading partner. Some of its main imports from the US are mineral fuels, aircraft, and machinery. Whereas the US imports gas and petroleum, iron, and coffee from Brazil.
According to the BBC, the US had a goods trade surplus with Brazil of USD 7.4 billion last year.
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