Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has expressed strong criticism of the tariffs imposed by the United States on Brazilian imports, describing them as “misguided” and “illogical.” His comments were featured in an op-ed published in The New York Times, coinciding with the first public appearance of former president Jair Bolsonaro following his conviction on coup charges.
In his essay, Lula emphasized his desire to engage in “open and frank dialogue” with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the 50 percent tariff placed on Brazilian goods. He highlighted that the U.S. has maintained a trade surplus with Brazil amounting to $410 billion over the past 15 years, suggesting that the motivation behind the tariffs could be political.
Lula accused the tariffs of seeking “impunity” for Bolsonaro, who is alleged to have incited protests leading to riots in Brasília on January 8, 2023. These events saw Bolsonaro’s supporters storm government buildings in reaction to their leader’s electoral defeat. Lula characterized Bolsonaro’s actions as attempts to undermine democratic processes.
Lula’s op-ed comes amidst U.S. threats of further actions against Brazil stemming from Bolsonaro’s conviction. In addition to tariffs, the U.S. has sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial, and has revoked visas for many Justices on the court. Trump has likened Bolsonaro’s trial to his own legal challenges.
Lula reiterated that trade relations built over 200 years should not be compromised, insisting that Brazil’s democracy and sovereignty are non-negotiable. Economists forecast that the tariffs could negatively impact Brazil’s economy, potentially leading to significant job losses, although they believe trade ties with other nations, such as China, may mitigate the impact.
Meanwhile, Jair Bolsonaro, currently under house arrest, is recovering from a medical procedure to remove skin lesions, and his health appears to be a concern. Supporters continue to rally outside the hospital, advocating for Bolsonaro’s potential amnesty. Following his conviction, Bolsonaro’s legal team plans to appeal both the sentence and the conviction before Brazil’s Supreme Court.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/15/lula-defends-bolsonaro-verdict-tells-trump-brazils-democracy-not-on-table?traffic_source=rss