Brazil's president warns of retaliation after Trump unveils 50 percent tariffs

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned on Wednesday that his government is prepared to retaliate after President Trump announced plans to impose 50 percent tariffs on goods imported from his country.

In a statement posted to the social platform X, the Brazilian leader pushed back on “inaccurate” claims of a U.S. trade deficit in its commercial relationship with Brazil, saying, “Statistics from the U.S. government itself show a surplus of $410 billion in the trade of goods and services with Brazil over the past 15 years.”

“Therefore, any unilateral tariff increases will be addressed in accordance with Brazil's Economic Reciprocity Law,” Lula continued in the statement.

“Sovereignty, respect and the unwavering defense of the interests of the Brazilian people are the values that guide our relationship with the world,” he added.

The Economic Reciprocity Law was signed into law April 14, shortly after Trump announced his sweeping tariffs on numerous countries. The government cited Trump’s tariffs as the impetus for the law.

The law authorizes the legislative branch to “adopt countermeasures in the form of restrictions to the importation of goods and services or measures to suspend concessions in the areas of trade, investments, and obligations related to intellectual property rights, as well as measures to suspend other obligations foreseen in any of the country’s trade agreements.”

Lula’s statement comes after Trump announced Wednesday the 50 percent tariff on all goods from Brazil, citing the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro over an alleged plot to remain in power after losing an election.

Trump, who has criticized Brazil’s treatment of Bolsonaro in recent days, said in a letter to Lula that the new tariffs would take effect Aug. 1 and are “due in part to Brazil’s insidious attacks on Free Elections and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans.”

Trump also cited Brazil’s “Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers.”

“The way that Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World during his Term, including by the United States, is an international disgrace. This Trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote in the letter, which was posted to the president’s Truth Social platform.

Lula, in his statement late Wednesday, defended the independence of his country’s institutions, saying, “Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage.”

“The judicial proceedings against those responsible for planning the coup d'état fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of Brazil’s Judicial Branch and, as such, are not subject to any interference or threats that could compromise the independence of national institutions,” Lula continued.

Lula also warned that digital companies must reject “hateful content” and anti-democratic speech on their platforms if they want to continue operating in Brazil.

“In the context of digital platforms, Brazilian society rejects hateful content, racism, child pornography, scams, fraud, and speeches against human rights and democratic freedom,” he wrote.

“In Brazil, freedom of expression must not be confused with aggression or violent practices. All companies—whether domestic or foreign—must comply with Brazilian law in order to operate within our territory.”