The Brazilian President: We’ll respond to US tariffs
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said his country will respond commercially to new tariffs announced by his US counterpart Donald Trump.
This came in statements to a local radio station on Friday, where he stated that “the additional customs duties won’t achieve any benefit for any party”.
Lula Da Silva explained that Brazil will respond commercially to the new fees, as it could file a complaint with the World Trade Organization or impose taxes on products it imports from the United States.
He noted that he hadn’t spoken to Trump since he was elected president, explaining: “We don’t want war, we want peace… We see the United States as a very important country, and I hope they feel the same way about us”.
He added that the United States was now pursuing policies that contradicted the role it had played since World War II as “the protector of global democracy”.
He criticized Trump’s recent decisions, saying, “The United States is now seeking to impose taxes on everything, and is working to buy Greenland, annex Canada, and control the Panama Canal, and this makes me worried”.
He stressed that Trump cannot do whatever he wants, and if he takes steps that affect other countries, he will inevitably face an appropriate response.
Brazil is the second largest supplier of steel to the United States, according to Brazilian media.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed two executive orders imposing 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
Trump stressed that these fees will be applied to all countries without any exception, explaining that these fees won’t be imposed on foreign companies that produce steel and aluminum within the United States.
