Brazil won't accept any tutelage, Lula hits out at Trump’s tariff

Brazilian President Lula da Silva has rejected any form of foreign control in response to US President Donald Trump’s announcement to impose a 50 per cent tariff on goods made in Brazil. Unveiling the plan in his latest tariff letter, Trump has accused Brazil of attacks on US tech companies and of conducting a witch hunt against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing prosecution over his alleged role in a plot to overturn the 2022 election. Underlining Brazil’s sovereignty, President Lula da Silva responded by saying that they will not accept any form of tutelage. He further added that judicial proceedings against those involved in the coup fall exclusively under Brazil’s jurisdiction and are not subject to any external interference. In the context of digital platforms, President Lula da Silva said that all companies, whether domestic or foreign, must comply with Brazilian law to operate in the country. He called the claim of US trade deficit with Brazil inaccurate and warned that any  any unilateral tariff increases will be addressed in accordance with Brazil’s Economic Reciprocity Law.

In light of the public statement made by U.S. President Donald Trump on social media on the afternoon of Wednesday (9), it is important to highlight the following:

Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage.

The judicial…

— Lula (@LulaOficial) July 9, 2025

Notably, Brazil and the US escalated their row Wednesday over President Trump's support for coup-accused ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro, with the American president slapping a 50 percent tariff on one of its main steel suppliers.