Dasilva to Trump: “Brazilian Democracy Is Non-Negotiable
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing ABC News via Mehr News Agency, luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, criticized the United states’ 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports as an irrational and politically motivated move.
In an opinion piece published in The New York Times, Lula stated that his government welcomes negotiations on any issue that could yield mutual benefits. However, he emphasized that “democracy and Brazil’s sovereignty are not negotiable.”
In July, then-US President Donald trump imposed these tariffs against Brazil referring to what he called “framing” former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who at the time faced accusations of illegal attempts to retain power.
The trial of Bolsonaro concluded last Thursday following a Supreme Court ruling by a panel of judges that found him guilty of attempting a coup after his electoral defeat to Lula in 2022. This verdict has heightened fears about further US actions targeting Brazil.
Lula expressed pride in this “historic decision” by Brazil’s Supreme Court for upholding judicial independence and democratic rule of law without resorting to “fabrications.”
He added that the verdict came after months of investigations uncovering plots to assassinate himself, the Vice President, and one Supreme Court justice.
The Brazilian president addressed the ongoing US trade dispute by highlighting America’s $410 billion trade surplus from bilateral goods and services over the past 15 years. He referred to the additional tariffs as “not only unreasonable but also irrational.”
This New York Times article signals Brazil’s preparation for potential further sanctions following its Supreme Court ruling.
Following last Thursday’s court decision, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on social media platform X that the Trump administration would “respond appropriately.”
Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced Rubio’s statement as an inappropriate threat but asserted it does not intimidate their government. It reaffirmed that Brazil’s judicial system is autonomous and maintains due process in Bolsonaro’s trial.
