Trump Smack 50% Tariff on Brazilian Imports; Lula Hits Back, Vows Sovereignty

Last Updated Jul - 10 - 2025, 11:02 AM | Source : Fela News

President Trump imposes a steep 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, citing support for ex-President Bolsonaro; President Lula rebukes intervention and asserts: “Braz

Trump Smack 50% Tariff on Brazilian Imports

In a sharp escalation of U.S. Brazil trade tension, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 50% tariff on Brazilian imports effective August 1 citing what he called “insidious attacks” on free elections and support for former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Trump said the tariff was a response to Brazil’s legal proceedings against Bolsonaro, who is facing charges for allegedly attempting a coup. Trump decried the trial as “international disgrace” and demanded the legal pressure be lifted.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva responded fiercely. Calling Brazil a “sovereign nation with independent institutions,” he declared the tariff a form of external “tutelage” and warned of retaliation under Brazil’s Economic Reciprocity Law. He refuted U.S. claims of a trade deficit, highlighting a $410 billion U.S. surplus with Brazil over 15 years.

Lula summoned the U.S. ambassador in Brasilia to voice protest over what he described as interference. In his remarks, he stressed that Brazil’s judiciary operates without external pressure. “Unilateral tariff increases will be met under our law,” he added.

This latest clash follows Trump’s broader threats, including a 10% tariff on BRICS nations moving away from the U.S. dollar. The Brazilian reaction rejecting foreign meddling and vowing to defend constitutional processes signals a deepening spat between two democracies.

Global observers now watch closely as both nations navigate this fraught phase. Will Brazil retaliate through legal channels or trade reprisal? And can this dispute reshape diplomatic and economic relations between two key global players?