Brazil's president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced retaliatory duties to the United States if negotiations with the Donald Trump administration did not result. Trump has assumed Brazil a 50% work since 1 August, while calling for the cessation of prosecution of erstwhile president Jair Bolsonaro. Experts fear the outbreak of a customs war between the 2 largest economies of both Americas.
Lula said in an interview with tv evidence that if negotiations with the US authorities fail, he would benefit from the common Customs Act adopted this year by the Brazilian Congress. "If there is no negotiation, the right of reciprocity will be used. If he imposes on us 50 (percentage duties), we will impose 50 on them" - declared the president of Brazil.
According to AP, Lula's position gives emergence to concerns that a customs war will break out between the US and Brazil, akin to what the United States is conducting with China. Trump threatened with serious consequences to countries that would respond to his duties.
Trump introduces customs into Brazil
On Wednesday, the president of the United States notified Brazil of a 50 percent work as of 1 August. In a letter addressed to Lula, he expressed his support for erstwhile right-wing president Bolsonaro, on whom there are allegations of planning a coup after losing the election.
Trump wrote that the way Brazil allegedly treats Bolsonaro was "international disgrace". He assessed the charges against him as "a witch hunt" and appealed for the end of the trial.
Defending "tropical Trump"
Earlier, Trump called on Brazilian authorities to leave the erstwhile president "in peace". Bolsonaro ruled the country from 2019 to 2023 and is simply a declared supporter of the president of the United States.
The media sometimes call Bolsonaro "tropical Trump" due to political similarities and rhetoric. The erstwhile president of Brazil is presently facing allegations of planning a coup after losing the presidential election.
(PAP) Note: This article was edited with Artificial Intelligence.
