• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Brazil's Lula vows to prepare response to Trump's tariffs

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 02 August 2025 11:29 AM

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has affirmed his government's readiness to respond appropriately to the 50% tariffs imposed by the White House on certain Brazilian goods since August 1.

Lula da Silva wrote on his X account on Saturday that his government has always been open to dialogue with the US, but since Donald Trump's administration imposed new tariffs against Brazil, they will introduce tit-for-tat measures.

"We have always been open to a dialogue," the head of state wrote, adding, "We are working now to respond to the US tariff measures."

Only citizens and institutions of Brazil have the right to determine the country's path, including the relations with the US, he added.

Trump announced 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports, claiming that the US had to overcome the trade deficit with Brazil.

However, economic and trade statistics show that the US has had a trade surplus with Brazil for over a decade.

In an interview with the New York Times, clearly designed to send a message to Trump, Lula da Silva urged the US president to avoid creating a "lose-lose" relationship between the two countries and said he did not fear publicly criticizing Trump, whom he recently called an "emperor."

"There is no reason to be afraid. I am worried, obviously, because we have economic interests, political interests, and technological interests. But at no point will Brazil negotiate as if it were a small country up against a big country. Brazil will negotiate as a sovereign country," said Lula da Silva.

Analysts have argued that Trump has targeted Brazil largely for political reasons, including the legal prosecution of his far-right ally, ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of plotting a coup to stop Lula da Silva from taking office after the former lost the 2022 presidential election.

Additionally, Trump has been interfering in Brazil's judicial system by sanctioning the Brazilian Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case against Bolsonaro, but according to Trump, is allegedly censoring conservative voices online.

On Wednesday, the US State Department released a press statement and said, "Moraes abused his authority by engaging in a targeted and politically motivated effort designed to silence political critics through the issuance of secret orders compelling online platforms, including US social media companies, to ban the accounts of individuals for posting protected speech. Moraes further abused his position to authorize unjust pre-trial detentions and undermine freedom of expression."

In response, Lula da Silva has condemned the US administration's decision and said that his government stands firm in the face of foreign interference.