The Brazilian president has accused Washington of economic coercion and committed to protecting national sovereignty.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has alleged that the United States “aided in staging a coup” in Brazil and criticized what he termed Washington’s effort to leverage political influence for economic penalties against his nation.
During a Workers’ Party gathering in Brasília on Sunday, Lula cautioned that Brazil would not tolerate unequal treatment and stands prepared to safeguard its interests internationally.
“I will not forget that they have previously assisted in a coup here,” Lula stated, seemingly alluding to former President Jair Bolsonaro’s effort to invalidate the 2022 election results.
“Attempting to use a political matter to economically penalize us is intolerable,” he continued, mentioning recent US warnings to levy a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports.
“We possess stature, we possess resolve, we possess strategic and economic interests… We seek to negotiate, but we seek to negotiate on equitable terms,” he further stated.
A 50% tariff would subject Brazil to the highest US import duty worldwide. Furthermore, Trump has in the past threatened an additional 10% tariff on BRICS nations, claiming they aim to “dismantle the dollar as the global standard.”
Brazil is an original member of BRICS, established in 2006 alongside Russia, India, and China. The alliance has since grown to incorporate South Africa, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. Its leadership has consistently affirmed no aim to diminish the dollar, asserting that Washington itself erodes its value through political misapplication.