【By Observer Net, Chen Sijia】 Recently, US President Trump has issued tariff threats against Brazil, threatening to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods starting next month. Brazilian President Lula made a firm response, refusing to yield to the United States. According to Reuters on July 17, Lula reiterated during an event that he would not follow the US demands, "No foreigner can give orders to the President of Brazil."

Lula attended the National Student Union Congress in Goiânia, the capital of Goiás state, on July 17. In his speech, he again countered Trump's tariff threat: "We do not accept being taught by others; we can accept suggestions, but not sermons. I want to tell you, we are very calm. My vice president and foreign minister have been negotiating for more than two months."

Lula recalled his experiences growing up and entering politics, emphasizing: "No foreigner (gringo) can give orders to the President of Brazil." Lula added: "The world must know that this country has sovereignty because its people have sovereignty and are proud of this country. I want to tell you, we will tax American digital companies."

Reuters noted that Lula used the term "gringo," one of the common ways to refer to foreigners in Brazil, but it is not as derogatory as in some other parts of Latin America.

Local time July 17, Lula delivers a speech at an event in Goiás state, Brazil. Screenshot from video

On July 9 local time, US President Trump posted a letter on social media to respond to the current Brazilian government's "political witch hunt" against former President Bolsonaro, announcing that from August 1, the tariff on Brazilian imports would be increased from 10% to 50%.

Bolsonaro served as President of Brazil from 2019 to 2022. He was a close ally of Trump and was often called "the tropical Trump" by the outside world. In October 2022, Bolsonaro lost his re-election bid, but he did not accept the defeat, claiming there was "electoral fraud." In January 2023, some of Bolsonaro's supporters stormed the Brazilian Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace, clashing with law enforcement officers.

Bolsonaro is currently under investigation by the Brazilian Supreme Court. Brazilian prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro and several senior advisors of jointly plotting a coup to push for military intervention to overturn the election results.

The Brazilian newspaper "Folha de S.Paulo" reported that Lula responded on July 17 to Trump's letter supporting Bolsonaro, stating that he would not allow any country to interfere in Brazil's internal affairs. He said, "It is not the President of Brazil who sentences Bolsonaro, but the Supreme Court. Bolsonaro tried to stage a coup in this country... He will face trial, and if found guilty, his fate will be prison."

Additionally, on July 17, Lula also gave an interview to CNN. He expressed disappointment at Trump's tariff letter, saying, "This is too unpleasant. I thought it was fake news." He criticized Trump, saying that he was elected as the leader of the United States, not to be the "emperor of the world."

Lula emphasized that Bolsonaro is facing trial for attempting to organize a coup, saying, "If Trump were a Brazilian and did what happened at the Capitol, he would also be tried in Brazil. He may have violated the constitution."

However, Lula also told CNN that he is willing to reach an agreement with the United States, depending on whether Trump seriously considers the ongoing trade negotiations between Brazil and the US. "I don't see Trump as a far-right president. I see him as the President of the United States — he was elected by the American people. The best thing in the world is that we can sit down and talk."

Lula signed a presidential decree on July 14 local time to launch the countermeasures based on the "Trade Fairness Act," authorizing the government to draft retaliatory measures such as equal additional tariffs. The Chief Minister of the Presidential Palace, Rui Costa, stated that the decree did not name any specific country, but authorized the executive branch to implement protective measures to defend national interests when other countries take unconventional actions unilaterally.

On July 15, the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil jointly sent a letter to the US government, reaffirming their openness to reaching an agreement acceptable to both sides. The Brazilian government expressed anger at the US plan to impose a 50% tariff and warned that it would have "very negative" effects on the economies of both countries.

This article is exclusive to Observer Net. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7528303343928738345/

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