‘Blackmail’: Brazilian President Lula slams Trump’s 50% tariff; threatens retaliation

Source: The Times of India | Original Published At: 2025-09-08 15:20:00 UTC

Key Points

• Lula condemns U.S. 50% tariff on Brazilian goods as 'tariff blackmail'
• Tariff caused 18.5% YoY drop in Brazil's U.S. exports
• Trump justified measure as response to 'witch hunt' against Bolsonaro
• Brazil threatens retaliatory tariffs and seeks WTO intervention

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday denounced what he called “tariff blackmail” after the United States imposed a 50 per cent import charge on Brazilian goods. “Tariff blackmail is being normalised as an instrument for market conquest and to interfere in domestic affairs,” Lula said during a virtual meeting of Brics leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.

The tariff, imposed by US President Donald Trump, targeted a wide range of Brazilian products and caused exports to the United States to drop 18.5 per cent year-on-year in August. Trump said the measure was a response to what he described as a “witch hunt” against his ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro is on trial for allegedly plotting a coup after losing to Lula in the October 2022 elections. A verdict is expected this week. Brazil has warned it may introduce retaliatory tariffs and has formally asked the World Trade Organisation to intervene in the escalating dispute.