Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday blasted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a “sworn enemy” of some Latin American countries as he reacted to the threat of new tariffs.
The on-again, off-again relationship between Washington and Brasilia soured again less than a month after Lula held a three-hour meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump that was praised as positive by both sides.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative proposed imposing 25% tariffs on Brazilian goods with partial exemptions, accusing the Latin American giant of “unreasonable acts, policies and practices.”
Lula, 80, said the proposed tariffs came while “we are still negotiating” because he and Trump had agreed on a 30-day deadline to resolve trade issues.
Lula is seeking a fourth term in October and his main rival is Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of Trump ally and far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro.
Flavio Bolsonaro and his brother Eduardo met with Trump and Rubio in Washington last week.
“That Marco Rubio guy…a sworn enemy of several Latin American countries…did not attend the meeting I had with Trump,” Lula said, noting his possible involvement in the decision.
The tariff threat is Lula’s second blow after he attempted a conciliatory meeting with Trump.
Last week, the United States designated two of Brazil’s main criminal factions as terrorist organizations, a move Brasilia has long opposed.
Last year, Trump imposed high tariffs on Brazil as punishment for a “witch hunt” against Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro is under house arrest for a failed coup and is currently serving a 27-year sentence.
However, these were lifted following the first official meeting between Lula and Trump.
Flavio Bolsonaro said in an interview that he specifically asked Trump and Rubio not to tax Brazilian companies, but “they don’t trust Lula.”
On Tuesday, Trump shared photos from his visit with Flavio Bolsonaro, writing on social media that he was a “bright young man who loves his native Brazil very much.”
A U.S. investigation into Brazil’s alleged unfair trade practices has cited the country’s crackdown on online disinformation, which has led to court-ordered content removals, fines and restrictions on U.S. digital platforms.
It also cited the country’s free PIX electronic payment system, which has been accused of harming the competitiveness of U.S. companies, and said Brazil failed to take enough action to combat corruption and illegal deforestation.
A final decision on the tariffs will be made after a public hearing on July 6.
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