Lula Vows 50% Retaliatory Tariff On U.S. Goods After Trump’s Trade Threat

Lula Responds to Trump’s Tariff Threat

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vowed to match U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly announced 50% tariff on Brazilian goods with an equal countermeasure on American imports.

“If he charges us 50 percent, we’ll charge him 50 percent,” Lula told Brazil’s Record TV, responding firmly to Trump’s proposal.

The U.S. tariff hike, which President Trump framed as retaliation against Brazil’s current government, has sparked concerns among U.S. food industry analysts. Experts say the move could push up the price of imported beef—a key ingredient in American hamburgers—given the rising dependence on Brazilian meat.

Trump’s announcement also included criticism of Lula’s administration, accusing it of persecuting former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently facing trial for allegedly attempting to overturn Brazil’s 2022 election results. Trump referred to this as a political “witch hunt.”

Despite the tough talk, President Lula said his government is open to dialogue before enforcing any reciprocal measures. “We’ll first try to negotiate,” he said. “But if talks don’t lead anywhere, the law of reciprocity will be applied.”

Lula also placed some of the blame on Bolsonaro, suggesting the former leader and his family had a hand in shaping Trump’s views. “He should take responsibility,” Lula said. “It was actually his son who went there to influence Trump.”

Bolsonaro, in turn, defended himself and criticized the current administration. He claimed that Trump’s move is a reflection of Brazil straying from its principles of freedom. “This would never have happened under my government,” he posted, calling on authorities to restore what he described as “institutional normality.”

He also added that the legal proceedings he faces are not just targeting him, but represent an attack on “millions of Brazilians.”

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