President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on Wednesday (9) that Brazil will respond to the 50 percent 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 US President Donald Trump’s claim that the tax is due to a trade deficit.
“Any unilateral tariff increase will be met with a response under Brazil’s Economic Reciprocity Law. Sovereignty, respect, and the unwavering defense of the interests of the Brazilian people are the values that guide our relationship with the world,” said the president.
The law authorizes the Executive Branch, in coordination with the private sector, to “adopt countermeasures such as import restrictions on goods and services or the suspension of trade concessions, investment, and obligations related to intellectual property rights, as well as other commitments established in any of the country’s trade agreements.”
The Brazilian government refutes the claim of a US trade deficit, stating: “The US government’s own statistics show that the country has recorded a surplus of approximately $410 billion in trade in goods and services with Brazil over the past 15 years.”
Lula also stated that Brazil is a sovereign country “with independent institutions that will not accept being controlled by anyone.”
In the document sent to the Brazilian president, Trump cites former President Jair Bolsonaro. He also refers to Supreme Court orders issued against Bolsonaro supporters residing in the United States.
“The legal proceedings against those who planned the coup d’état are the sole responsibility of the Brazilian justice system and, therefore, are not subject to any interference or threat that could undermine the independence of national institutions,” Lula replied.
The Brazilian president also responded to Trump’s criticism of the Supreme Court’s rulings against social media profiles involved in hate speech and the spread of fake news. Lula stated that “in the context of digital platforms, Brazilian society rejects content that promotes hate, racism, child pornography, scams, fraud, and discourse against human rights and democratic freedom.”
“In Brazil, freedom of expression is not to be confused with aggression or violent practices. To operate in our country, all national and foreign companies are subject to Brazilian law,” he wrote.
Before publishing the statement, President Lula coordinated an emergency meeting at the Planalto presidential palace, attended by Ministers Fernando Haddad (Finance), Mauro Vieira (International Relations), Rui Costa (Chief of Staff), and Sidônio Palmeira (Communication Secretariat), as well as Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, and Trade, Geraldo Alckmin.
Source: Agência Brasil