President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on Wednesday (9) that Brazil will respond to the 50% tariff on all its exports to the United States by invoking the Reciprocity Law.
On social media, the president defended Brazil’s sovereignty and rejected the claim by US President Donald Trump that the tax is due to a trade deficit.
“Any unilateral tariff increase will be responded to based on Brazil’s Economic Reciprocity Law. Sovereignty, respect, and the unwavering defense of the Brazilian people’s interests are the values that guide our relationship with the world,” the president said.
The law authorizes the Executive Branch, in coordination with the private sector, to “adopt countermeasures such as restrictions on the importation of goods and services or the suspension of commercial concessions, investments, and obligations related to intellectual property rights, as well as other commitments established in any trade agreements of the country.”
The Brazilian government refutes the trade deficit claim with the US, stating: “The US government’s own statistics show that the country recorded a surplus of approximately $410 billion in trade in goods and services with Brazil over the last 15 years.”
Lula also stated that Brazil is a sovereign country “with independent institutions that do not accept being controlled by anyone.”
In the document sent to the Brazilian president, Trump mentions former President Jair Bolsonaro. He also refers to Supreme Court orders issued against Bolsonaro supporters residing in the United States.
“The judicial processes against the coup planners are the exclusive responsibility of the Brazilian justice system and, therefore, are not subject to any interference or threat that could compromise the independence of national institutions,” Lula responded.
The Brazilian president also responded to Trump’s criticisms of the Federal Supreme Court’s decisions against social media profiles involved in hate speech and the dissemination of fake news. Lula stated that “in the context of digital platforms, Brazilian society repudiates content that promotes hatred, racism, child pornography, scams, frauds, and discourses against human rights and democratic freedoms.”
“In Brazil, freedom of expression is not confused with aggression or violent practices. To operate in our country, all national and foreign companies are subject to Brazilian legislation,” he wrote.
Before publishing the statement, President Lula coordinated an emergency meeting at the Planalto Palace, attended by ministers Fernando Haddad (Finance), Mauro Vieira (Foreign Relations), Rui Costa (Chief of Staff), and Sidônio Palmeira (Communication Secretariat), as well as the vice president and Minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Geraldo Alckmin.
Source: Agência Brasil