Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has responded firmly to a broad 50% tariff on Brazilian imports announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, asserting that Brazil will not accept interference in its democratic institutions or judicial independence.
Stepping out to social media site X on Wednesday, Lula emphasized the sovereignty of the nation and resisted what he characterized as outside pressure on Brazil's institutions.
In view of the public declaration of US President Donald Trump on social media at noon on Wednesday (9), it is necessary to emphasize the following: Brazil is an independent country with autonomous institutions and will not receive any tutelage," Lula wrote.
The judiciary process against the perpetrators of organizing a coup d'état is the sole prerogative of Brazil's Judicial Power and, as a constitutional matter, is free from interference or threats that may undermine national institutions' independence."
Lula also denied Trump's assertions of an unbalanced trade balance with Brazil, using official US statistics to oppose the claim.
"Brazil's commercial relationship with the US does not present a trade deficit, and the assertion that it does is incorrect. Figures from the US government itself indicate a surplus of $410 billion in its trade of goods and services with Brazil for the last 15 years," Lula added.
Thus, any one-sided tariff hikes will be taken care of under Brazil's Economic Reciprocity Law. Respect, sovereignty, and the unflinching defense of the Brazilian people's interests are the principles that rule our relationship with the world.
The diplomatic confrontation escalated after Trump made a public declaration in a letter written to Lula that the U.S. would be imposing a 50% blanket tariff on all Brazilian exports starting from August 1, 2025. This was done after Trump's weak defense of Brazil's judiciary and his harsh criticism of the President for defending former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is under trial for trying to undo the 2022 presidential elections.
In the letter, Trump condemned the prosecution of Bolsonaro, describing it as politically motivated and unwarranted.
"I knew and worked with former President Jair Bolsonaro, and valued him highly, as did most other Leaders of Nations," Trump wrote.
"How Brazil treated its former President Bolsonaro, who was widely respected as a leader across the globe during his presidency, including by America, is a global disgrace. This trial never should have been initiated. It is a Witch Hunt that needs to be stopped immediately."
Trump also accused Brazil's Supreme Court of stifling free speech with "secret" censorship orders against American technology companies.
"In response in part to Brazil's nefarious assaults on free elections, and on the very Free Speech Rights of Americans … beginning on August 1, 2025, we will impose upon Brazil a tariff of 50% on any and all Brazilian goods brought into the United States," the letter stated.
"Goods transshipped in an attempt to circumvent this 50% tariff will be charged that higher tariff."
The tariff declaration is a major escalation of tensions between the two nations, especially regarding Trump's open endorsement of Bolsonaro, who is being investigated for inciting an attempted coup after his loss in the 2022 elections. Bolsonaro denied taking part in the invasion of government buildings in Brasília by his followers in January 2023.
With Trump's letter defining Brazil's judicial actions as anti-democratic and Lula reaffirming his country's sovereign power, the confrontation has created a new front in international political discourse—trade, democracy, and foreign influence.
As Brazil gets ready to counter through its Economic Reciprocity Law, the incident marks possible ripple effects in international trade and diplomacy, particularly between large economies of the Western Hemisphere.
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