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New York Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Brazil's Attorney General: Brazil and the United States Can Do Better
On July 9, the president of the United States unilaterally announced a 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian exports — an unprecedented measure in the modern history of our countries' relations. The justification President Trump has offered — Brazil's alleged unfair trade practices, supposed attacks on free speech and the prosecution of a former president — demands a careful, principled response and a firm defense of our legal order, our sovereignty and the integrity of our institutions. Brazil and the United States have long cultivated a mature, diverse and strategic relationship. Last year we celebrated 200 years of diplomatic ties, dating back to when President James Monroe received José Silvestre Rebello in Washington as the first envoy of the newly independent Empire of Brazil. Our partnership has withstood global conflicts, economic crises and political transitions because of our shared values: democracy, respect for the rule of law and a general commitment to peaceful international cooperation. These principles are not mere abstractions. They are the foundation upon which our societies are built, and they require constant vigilance and mutual respect, especially in times of disagreement. Mr. Trump's assertion that the United States suffers from an unfair and unreciprocated trade relationship with Brazil is contradicted by the facts. According to U.S. government data, in 2024 alone, the U.S. trade surplus with Brazil reached $7.4 billion. When services are included, according to the Brazilian government's calculations of U.S. data, it rises to $28.6 billion, making Brazil the third-largest contributor to the U.S. global trade surplus when goods and services are combined. Over the past 15 years, the United States has accumulated recurring and significant surpluses in goods and services with Brazil totaling $410 billion. The imposition of a blanket 50 percent tariff is not only disproportionate but also contrary to the rules of fair trade. Such measures undermine legal certainty for businesses and investors, disrupt global supply chains and violate the spirit of cooperation that has defined our relationship. In Brazil we respond to such challenges with respect for the law, for international norms and for our constitutional mandate to defend the national interest — including, if necessary, through reciprocal measures. Mr. Trump has said the tariffs are in connection with the ongoing judicial proceedings against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of participating in an attempted coup, which Mr. Trump called a 'witch hunt.' As attorney general, I must emphasize that the Brazilian government categorically rejects any efforts by outside parties to interfere in our judicial processes. The ongoing legal proceedings against individuals accused of attempting to subvert our democracy on Jan. 8, 2023, are the exclusive domain of Brazil's independent judiciary. No foreign government has the right to dictate or question the administration of justice in our country. The defense of legality and the autonomy of our institutions are nonnegotiable pillars of our democracy. Mr. Trump's other allegations last week regarding censorship of U.S. tech companies and attacks on freedom of expression in Brazil are equally unfounded. In Brazil, the right to freedom of speech is protected, but it is not to be confused with the right to incite violence, commit fraud or undermine the rule of law — limitations that are broadly recognized in democratic societies. Last month our Supreme Court recognized that under certain circumstances, digital platforms can be held liable for third-party content that violates our rule of law, such as those involving child pornography or other illicit content, including inciting anti-democratic actions or hate speech. All companies, domestic and foreign, operating in Brazil are subject to our laws, just as Brazilian companies comply with U.S. regulations when operating in the United States. This is a critical moment. Under the leadership of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian government remains committed to a constructive and pragmatic relationship with the United States, grounded in respect for sovereignty, legality and the rule of law. Our differences must be addressed through dialogue, negotiation and mutual respect — not threats and punitive measures. Our countries have overcome greater challenges in the past. The strength of our partnership lies in our ability to work through disagreements while upholding the principles that unite us. Brazil will continue to defend its sovereignty, the integrity of its legal system and the interests of its people while seeking ways to deepen cooperation with the United States in the service of global peace and prosperity. The world is watching. Let us choose engagement over escalation, partnership over provocation and our enduring values over arbitrariness. Jorge Messias is the attorney general of Brazil. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We'd like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here's our email: letters@ Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, WhatsApp and Threads.
Fox News
16-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
US needs a new Monroe Doctrine -- this time to guarantee AI dominance
In 1823, President James Monroe drew a firm line in the sand: the Western Hemisphere would be closed to further European interference and, most importantly, America's primary domain of industrial, political, and military control. The Monroe Doctrine, while audacious, proved effective and laid the groundwork for the Western Hemisphere as America's stepping stone to the rest of the world. America was not yet a superpower and could not enforce it alone, however. Instead, America aligned British naval dominance with our interests to build a coalition of opportunity. America asserted its position, secured a partner through alignment against common rivals, and laid the groundwork for its emergence as a global find ourselves at a similar inflection point. The battleground isn't about territory or shipping lanes, however. Today, it's about computing power and associated techno-industrial dominance. Given the rate of change and speed of adoption, the stakes are higher than ever. Artificial intelligence turns data centers into industrial hubs for exponential innovation. Today, a country's value lies not only in human capital and raw resources but also in hardware, the sovereignty to choose its own destiny, and control of the global AI technology ecosystem. To maintain dominance in this new era, America needs a new Monroe Doctrine, for AI: one founded on realism, committed to fostering hemispheric stability, and laser-focused on expanding our technological sphere of influence to secure the future. Export controls have become the default tool for U.S. policymakers attempting to contain China's rise in AI, but they are backfiring. Instead of crippling China, they have harmed America's most important tech company: NVIDIA. Its market share in China has plummeted from 95% to 50% in just four years, not due to superior Chinese competition, but because U.S. policy rendered the sale illegal. This created a vacuum in the world's second-largest AI market. Into that vacuum stepped Huawei, offering not only rival chips but also building an entire AI ecosystem from the ground up: rare earth mining, chip design, infrastructure, and models. They aren't just catching up. We're handing them the advantage. Rather than making ourselves an unreliable trading partner for countries eager to buy our most critical export, the U.S. should saturate the free world with American chips, which are hardened at the hardware level for security and compliance. This isn't merely about defeating China. It's about becoming the system that others rely on. The goal is to make our stack, our chips, our software, our standards, as indispensable as the dollar. Power comes from ubiquity, not scarcity. The Western Hemisphere remains America's home-field advantage. Leaders like Nayib Bukele in El Salvador and Javier Milei in Argentina are discarding outdated anti-American orthodoxies. They are pragmatic, growth-focused, and receptive to deeper cooperation. Now is the time to act. Nearshoring involves more than just mitigating supply chain risks; it represents an industrial strategy. The U.S. should concentrate on high-end manufacturing: data center infrastructure, power systems, and semiconductors. Meanwhile, our neighbors in the Americas can handle lower-margin but crucial production that supports AI infrastructure at a lower cost than China, along with enhanced trust and transparency. Mexico is among the most affordable locations globally for manufacturing and assembly. Artificial intelligence turns data centers into industrial hubs for exponential innovation. Today, a country's value lies not only in human capital and raw resources but also in hardware, the sovereignty to choose its own destiny, and control of the global AI technology ecosystem. Re-anchoring our hemisphere to America's AI ecosystem is how we create a foundation for the AI age, a Marshall Plan for computing, chips, and code. Let China maintain its Belt and Road of low-cost spyware. We'll develop a hemisphere of excellence and trust. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are the front lines of U.S.-China tech competition. Their fabrication facilities, standards, and developer ecosystems shape the global AI ecosystem. If we don't support them with open access to U.S. technology and customers for U.S. products, China will. China is willing, and increasingly able, to fill any vacuum we leave behind. And it's not just the big three who are part of the Ring of Fire. Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam are all in play. Each has a tense, complex relationship with Beijing and is actively seeking deeper tech and trade ties with the U.S. The window is open, but not forever. That means rethinking how we deploy tools like export controls and tariffs. Tariffs misalign incentives, punish allies, and raise the cost of the very inputs we need to reshore advanced manufacturing. Export restrictions that limit friendly access only help China's competitors build alternatives. Export controls and tariffs should hamper our adversaries, not our companies and platforms. Let's be clear: the primary goal isn't to slow China down. China is going to China. The goal is to stay ahead and play to our strength: open markets that scale. That's how we win. With America's AI lead established and our exports increasingly central to global tech supply chains, it's time to seize the moment, not squander it. If the goal is to contain China, rather than ceding market share and fueling anti-American resentment, then we need to reassess what AI means to us and the world. With America's AI lead solidified and our exports increasingly anchoring global tech supply chains, now is the moment to act boldly, not cautiously. If the goal is to contain China, not cede ground or fuel anti-American resentment, we must rethink what AI represents, not just as a tool, but as a geopolitical weapon of alignment. Misguided export controls and blanket tariffs don't protect us—they shrink U.S. market share, raise production costs, and hand China the time and space to build behind a wall of protectionism. That's not industrial strategy. That's industrial retreat. The solutions are simple. What's required is political will. If China achieves independent AGI and exports its standards to our current allies, we won't just lose influence; we'll lose the framework that made us a superpower. But if we establish the U.S. as the default AI stack, flood friendly markets with our computers, and build a hemispheric manufacturing base around it, we won't just hold the lead and we'll lock it in for a generation. The original Monroe Doctrine laid the groundwork for the American century. It worked because we had aligned allies and clear strategic priorities. In the AI era, we need the same: nearshored production, fortified Indo-Pacific alliances, and a trade regime that builds markets, not walls. That's how you make Beijing panic.
New York Times
27-05-2025
- New York Times
My Visit to the Trump Winery, Where Patriotism Is Sold by the Bottle
The pastoral countryside south of Charlottesville, Va., is quietly presidential. Visitors from around the world travel through the green rolling hills to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Though it's been named as a UNESCO world heritage site, its presence is indicated only by a decorous sign. From there, the Thomas Jefferson Parkway leads to the James Monroe Parkway, where a more discreet sign points toward Highland, Monroe's home. The restraint ends a few miles down the road, where the American flags begin. Hundreds of them line the top rungs of split-rail fences facing Route 627, snapping in the wind and stretching for a mile or more. Like a big brass band, they shout out your arrival at Trump Winery. I visited the winery in mid-April while exploring Virginia wine country. I was curious about the wine, given its association with President Trump, who has said he has never consumed alcoholic beverages. Mr. Trump doesn't exactly own this winery. Its proprietor is Eric Trump Wine Manufacturing, a limited liability company. Eric Trump, the president's middle son, is its president. A disclaimer on the winery's website states that the company 'is not owned, managed, or affiliated with Donald J. Trump or any of his affiliates.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Back home: Remains of U.S. President James Monroe's daughter will be reburied beside him
After two centuries in a neglected European grave, the remains of U.S. President James Monroe's daughter will be coming home to rest beside her father in Richmond. The Catholic Diocese of Richmond announced May 23 that the body of Eliza Monroe Hay had arrived two days earlier at Washington Dulles International Airport. Plans to reinter her near Monroe's crypt at Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery have not been finalized, but the diocese said it will take place this fall. The discovery of Monroe Hay's grave in Paris' Père Lachaise Cemetery was the culmination of the Bringing Eliza Home Project, an effort led by Barbara Vorndick of Fluvanna County and a member of the diocese. Vorndick spent six years combing through historical records and finally discovered documents mapping Monroe Hay's grave in Paris. In a statement issued by the diocese, Vorndick called the project a 'fascinating, enriching journey.' She credited her faith for guiding her, adding that it was after sending emails to France that a parish archivist there found a document of Monroe Hay's funeral Mass. 'Through the long hours and years of research, I came to feel God's presence in a very real way,' Vorndick said in the statement. 'When I wondered if I would ever find the documents that I needed, He was there, whispering in my ear – suddenly dropping ideas into my mind.' Eliza Monroe Hay, who lived from 1786 until 1840, served as White House hostess in place of her ill mother< Elizabeth Monroe. James Monroe, a Virginia native and the nation's fifth president, served two terms from 1817 to 1825 and is best known for his 'Monroe Doctrine' that closed off the Western Hemisphere to European colonization. The family spent many years in France when Monroe was the American minister to France during the French Revolution. After her husband's and mother's deaths two days apart in 1830, and her father's death the following year, Monroe Hay moved back to France. According to the 2013 book, 'First Ladies' Fact Book' by Laura Ross and Bill Harris, Monroe Hay converted to Catholicism and lived in a convent until her death. The true story of Memorial Day's local origins The reinternment of Monroe Hay's remains to Richmond is not the first reburial in the Monroe family. After his death in 1831 in New York City, James Monroe was originally buried in New York's Marble Cemetery. Twenty-seven years later, in 1858, his body was exhumed and brought to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond and is part of what is now known as President's Circle because four years later, John Tyler, the nation's 10th president was buried next to him. Monroe's tomb is recognizable for the Gothic Revival-style cast-iron cage that encloses his sarcophagus. What's in Trump's big tax bill? Here's what you need to know. Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@ or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: President James Monroe's daughter will be reburied beside him in Richmond
Wall Street Journal
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
There's a Doctrine in the House—Call It Mater-Realism
Along with the big house and a legacy, every self-respecting president likes to have a doctrine. Since James Monroe gave his name to one, most presidents have sought to codify formally or informally their engagement with the world beyond U.S. shores into a set of principles that provides a blueprint for a coherent foreign policy. (Teddy Roosevelt had to make do with a corollary rather than a full doctrine, but that didn't stop him from being among the more consequential presidents.) Presidential doctrine is both rhetorical and empirical, carefully crafted in speeches that capture the administration's intentions and aspirations, and executed in presidential action. In his 1985 State of the Union address, Ronald Reagan pithily captured his doctrine with the claim that 'Support for freedom fighters is self-defense.' He exemplified it with active assistance to anticommunists from Kabul to Managua.
