Lula replied to Trump's tariffs and plans to start a trade war

The Brazilian government, led by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, published a strong response this afternoon to recent statements by President Donald Trump, in which it insists on applying trade reprisals against the United States and rejects any kind of external criticism regarding internal affairs.

The statement reflects a growing tone of confrontation from the current Brazilian socialist government, especially regarding bilateral trade and freedom of expression.

In his statement, Lula asserts that he will not accept any kind of "foreign tutelage," referring to Trump's remarks about the judicial proceedings against Brazilian opposition members accused of "coup-mongering."

However, the real concern in Washington is not Brazil's judicial system, but rather the growing trade hostility that Lula has promoted under the pretext of national sovereignty.

In particular, Brazil threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs if the United States raises tariffs on Brazilian products. Lula's government keeps that the United States doesn't have a trade deficit with Brazil, and that Washington has accumulated a surplus of 41 billion dollars over the past 15 years.

Nevertheless, this interpretation omits key factors, such as the impact of Brazilian state subsidies or unfair practices in industrial sectors like steel and aluminum.

Currently, Brazilian products already face general tariffs of 10% and 25% specifically on steel and aluminum, measures imposed by the Trump administration on dozens of countries.

Instead of seeking structural solutions, Lula has chosen a retaliatory approach, threatening equivalent measures and even turning to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which could trigger an unnecessary trade war.

Even more concerning, Lula's administration has intensified control over digital platforms, requiring American companies operating in Brazil to comply with regulations that many consider vague or arbitrary, especially regarding so-called "hate speech."

In practice, these policies have served to censor voices critical of the government and consolidate an increasingly restrictive environment for freedom of expression.

Although Vice President Geraldo Alckmin has tried to open channels of dialogue with figures close to Trump, the reality is that Brazil's tone is moving further away from pragmatism and seems to be shifting toward an ideological agenda that prioritizes confrontation over cooperation.

With its threats of reciprocal tariffs and rejection of external criticism, Lula is putting a historic trade relationship at risk and harming exporters from both countries, sacrificing economic interests in favor of his political rhetoric.