On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced the introduction of 50 percent customs duties for all the upcoming imports from Brazil, as a result of the new escalation movement, which reflects the deterioration of relations with his Brazilian colleague Louis Inasio Lula da Silva, who previously called him an “undesirable emperor”.
In the first official answer, Da Silva confirmed that his country will also respond to these fees, emphasizing Brazil’s sovereignty and its right to protect its economic interests, according to Reuters.
In the official message, Trump connected the introduction of contributions with the appeal of Brazil’s government to former President Jaer Bolsonero, who is currently trying to plan a coup in order to interrupt the transfer of power and Silve in 2023. Trump indicated that the fees were partially introduced from what he called “Brazil’s malicious attacks on free elections and the main freedom of expression.”
After the announcement, the Brazilian currency (Riyal) fell by more than 2 percent with respect to the dollar, and the shares of large companies, such as the Empire for the production of aircraft and petrobras oil, decreased. On the other hand, it was not an emergency meeting in the capital, Brazil, with the participation of his deputy, his minister and other officials; To discuss the possible consequences.
In a long publication on his social platforms, he denied that not any kind of commercial injustice from his country in relation to the United States, emphasizing that Washington is the one who records a trade excess in his relations with Brazil. He said: “Sovereignty, respect and protection of the interests of the Brazilian people are the values that direct our foreign policy.”
The United States is the second largest commercial partner in Brazil after China, and these fees are a serious escalation compared to the previous tariff of 10 percent declared in April last year. New fees should enter into force on the first of August (August) in order to remain separate from other fees charged in specific sectors.
Yes, Silwa warned earlier, during the Brex Group summit in Rio -de -Zhanero about the consequences of introducing additional American fees to blocks, emphasizing: “The world has changed … and we do not want the emperor.”
Political tension … and announced the support of Polsonaro
The tension between the two countries worsened after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil caused a “business at the American embassy”; In protest against the statement published by Washington, the Bolsonaro protection. For his part, Trump said from the White House that “Brazil was not a good partner,” emphasizing that new drawings are based on “fundamental facts” and the history of relations between the two countries.
The American embassy in Brazil defended Trump’s position and confirmed an official meeting between the Chargé d’Hocials and the officials of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the situation without going into details.
Trump’s support is half the tendency to stand next to the leaders of the right, who are faced with legal prosecutions such as Marine Le Pen in France, and Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, describing the problems against them as “tough campaigns”, the same description that he used to charge him in the United States.
In the publication “Social Truth”, Trump said that Bolsonaro was subjected to “political persecution”, while the American embassy made a statement in which it was called the “shameful persecution” of Polasonaro and his family, usually a violation of democratic traditions in Brazil.
On the other hand, Bolsonaro did not comment directly on Trump, but he wrote in the media that “the persecution that has encountered him is evidence of my rooted presence in the popular awareness,” emphasizing that the most “terrible” name remains, despite his departure from the decision.
In a connected context, Trump instructed the American commercial representative James Garr to open an official investigation that he called the “unfair commercial practice” by Brazil, especially with regard to digital trade, and criticized the decisions of the Supreme Court of Brazil in relation to the platforms of social networks.
Customs duties … a political instrument for superiority
Trump also promised that the decisions of the Supreme Court of Brazil, which imposed fines on social networks, represent “secret and illegal control”, announcing a new investigation in accordance with Article 301 of the 1974 trade law, which is used against countries that are believed to harm American companies.
The fines included platform X, belonging to Elon Musk, to one of the most prominent supporters of Trump in the elections in 2024, which recently entered the dispute with Trump; From the budget policy. On the other hand, Trump has his own platform “Social Truth”.
Yes, Silva firmly answered: “In Brazil, freedom of expression of opinions does not mix with aggressive or violent behavior. Each company, whether local or foreign, must comply with Brazilian laws. ”
For its part, the Brazilian Labor Party, which and Silva, the former president of Polsonaro and his two sons, accused Eduardo Bolsonaro and Sennier Flavio Bolsonaro, that he stood for incitement to Trump to pay a fee. Senator Lindberg Farias said: “The Bolsonaro family is undoubtedly funny, because it contributed to the damage of Brazil, its economy and the functions of its citizens,” said Senator Lindberg Farias.
Trump’s message to Brazil showed that personal relations and political considerations can go beyond, and even dominate economic assessments. Despite Trump’s talk about the trade balance, official data show that the United States recorded a trade excess in Brazil, which in 2024 amounted to $ 6.8 billion.
