Left-wing Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, popularly known as Lula, has condemned US president Donald Trump’s new import tariffs on Brazil and his recent criticism of the Brazilian judiciary.
Speaking at an event on Thursday, Lula declared that he would “not take orders from a foreigner” regarding tariffs, calling the US threats “unacceptable blackmail.”
“No foreigner is going to give orders to this president,” Lula said, using the Brazilian slang gringo, a common, non-pejorative term for foreigners.
The diplomatic tension between the US and Brazil has been escalating for weeks. Last week, the US announced a 50% import tariff on Brazilian goods, following Lula’s earlier comment calling Trump “an emperor the world does not want.”
The tariff, set to take effect on August 1, was justified by Trump as a response to what he described as unfair treatment of former president Jair Bolsonaro and discriminatory practices against US companies operating in Brazil.
Lula and his cabinet have rejected those claims and called for renewed negotiations with the US. At a separate gathering of left-wing student activists, Lula said Brazil would proceed with its plans to regulate and tax US tech giants, accusing them of acting as conduits for violence and fake news disguised as freedom of expression.
Later that evening, in a televised national address, Lula reaffirmed Brazil’s stance, saying the defense of Brazil’s sovereignty includes protecting the nation from harmful actions by foreign digital platforms.
“We expected a response, and what we received was unacceptable blackmail, in the form of threats to Brazilian institutions and false information about trade between Brazil and the United States” Lula said, referring to an earlier negotiation proposal Brazil sent in May.
The Brazilian government is currently consulting with industry groups affected by the US tariffs and is also preparing retaliatory measures if negotiations fail.
Foreign minister Mauro Vieira told CNN Brazil on Thursday that Lula remains open to talks with Trump, though the two leaders have not yet met.
Lula, now serving his third non-consecutive term as president of Latin America’s largest economy, has seen a rebound in approval ratings following the public dispute with Trump.
