'Will Not Accept Any Form of Tutelage': Brazilian President Slams Trump’s Tariff Threat

Brasilia – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has strongly rejected any external interference following former U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a planned 50% tariff on goods imported from Brazil.

In a statement posted on social media late Wednesday (Brazil time), Lula asserted Brazil’s sovereignty and condemned Trump’s accusations and proposed punitive trade measures.

Trump, in his latest “tariff letter” shared online, accused Brazil of undermining U.S. tech companies and orchestrating a “witch hunt” against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently facing legal action for his alleged involvement in a plot to overturn the 2022 election results.

Responding firmly, President Lula said:

“Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage. The judicial actions related to the attempted coup are exclusively under the jurisdiction of Brazil’s judiciary and are not subject to external interference or threats that could compromise national autonomy.”

Lula further highlighted Brazil’s stance on digital platforms, saying the country rejects hate speech, racism, child pornography, scams, fraud, and anti-democratic content.

“In Brazil, freedom of expression does not mean the right to incite violence or aggression. All companies — domestic or foreign — must abide by Brazilian law to operate within our borders.”

He also challenged Trump's economic justification for the proposed tariffs, calling the claim of a U.S. trade deficit with Brazil inaccurate.

“U.S. government data shows a $410 billion surplus in goods and services trade with Brazil over the past 15 years,” Lula noted.

Concluding his message, the Brazilian President warned that any unilateral tariff actions will be met in accordance with Brazil’s Economic Reciprocity Law.

“Sovereignty, mutual respect, and the unwavering defence of the Brazilian people’s interests are the principles that guide our international relations,” he stated.

With inputs from IANS