CNN
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Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has fought back against the threat of Donald Trump’s tariffs by saying that his American counterpart was elected American leader and that he “is not the emperor of the world.”
Last week, Trump threatened Brazil with 50% unstable tariffs from August 1st, according to a letter posted to his social media platform Truth Social.
In the letter, Trump linked the astronomical tariff threat to what he described as a “witch hunt” trial against former Brazilian right-wing president, Jia Bolsonaro.
Trump’s ally Bolsonaro is facing trial in Brazil as he allegedly tried to overthrow Lula after the president’s victory in 2022.
Speaking exclusively to CNN’s Christian Amanpur on Thursday, Da Silva, widely known as Lula, said Trump’s threat has left “protocol” and argued that the fate of his predecessor is not part of the trade negotiations.
“The judicial division of Brazil is independent. The President of the Republic has no effect at all,” he said, adding that Bolsonaro “is not judged personally. He is judged by his attempt to organize a coup.”
Bolsonaro denied any misconduct.
Lula said if the actions he took place during the January 6th rebellion took place in a South American country, Trump would also be a respectable trial in Brazil.
“If Trump was Brazilian, if he did what happened in Capitol Hill, he would have been on trial in Brazil as well. He would probably have violated the constitution. According to the court, he would be arrested if he did that in Brazil,” he said.
Speaking through an interpreter, Lula expressed disappointment at Trump’s approach, initially saying that he couldn’t believe the US President’s social media post was authentic.
“It was very uncomfortable,” he told Amanpur. “I thought it was fake news.”
Brazil vowed mutual tariffs if Trump chased his threat, marking that for the first time in months, other countries challenged Trump in the face of tariffs.
“Brazil is about caring for Brazil, caring for the people of Brazil, not caring for the interests of other people,” Lula said.
Unlike more than 20 other countries that received letters from Trump this month, the US operated a $6.8 billion trade surplus with Brazil last year.
This means that the US exported more goods to Brazil than it was imported from there. This is an imbalance that should already meet Trump’s trade agenda.
According to data from the US Census Bureau, top US exports in 2024 included aircraft and spacecraft, fuel, industrial machinery, electrical equipment, and more.
A retaliatory 50% Brazilian tariff on American goods could cause serious harm to these industries.
Still, Lula stressed his willingness to agree with Washington on Thursday, saying it was up to Trump to consider negotiations “seriously” and that the US president would change his mind.
“I’m not a progressive president. I’m the president of Brazil. I don’t see President Trump as a far-right president. He is considered the president of the United States. He was elected to the American people.
“The best thing in the world is that we sit around the table and talk,” he added.
“If President Trump is going to take ongoing negotiations between Brazil and the United States seriously, I keep in mind that we will negotiate what is necessary. But the key is that relations between the two countries cannot proceed in this way.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the US began researching what is called “unfair” trading practices by Brazil, escalating spats with the world’s 10th largest economy.
The investigation will focus on digital trade and electronic payment services, priority litigation, anti-corruption interference, and intellectual property protection, and whether there are “irrational or discriminatory, burden or limitations” American commercial transactions, according to a statement from the US Trade Representative (USTR).
We will also consider access to the ethanol market and illegal deforestation.
