Latest news with #Lula da Silva
The Guardian
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Rubio moves to strip US visas from eight Brazilian judges in Bolsonaro battle
The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has reportedly stripped eight of Brazil's 11 supreme court judges of their US visas as the White House escalates its campaign to help the country's former president Jair Bolsonaro avoid justice over his alleged attempt to seize power with a military coup. Bolsonaro, a far-right populist with ties to Donald Trump's Maga movement, is on trial for allegedly masterminding a murderous plot to cling to power after losing the 2022 election to his leftwing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro is expected to be convicted by the supreme court in the coming weeks and faces a jail sentence of up to 43 years. As the day of judgment nears, Trump has been increasing pressure on the court and President Lula's administration. On 9 July, the US president announced he would impose 50% tariffs on all Brazilian imports as of 1 August, partly as a result of the supposed persecution of his ally. The move triggered an outpouring of nationalist anger in the South American country, with Lula describing it as 'unacceptable blackmail'. On Friday, after federal police raided Bolsonaro's house and fitted him with an electronic tag to stop him absconding, Rubio announced further moves in support of the defendant, who he claimed was the victim of a 'political witch hunt'. Writing on X, Rubio said he had ordered visa revocations for the judge leading the investigation into Bolsonaro, Alexandre de Moraes, as well as 'his allies on the court' and their family members. Rubio did not name his other targets but the Brazilian newspaper O Globo identified them as Luís Roberto Barroso, José Antonio Dias Toffoli, Cristiano Zanin, Flávio Dino, Cármen Lúcia Antunes Rocha, Luiz Edson Fachin and Gilmar Ferreira Mendes. Two other judges who were nominated to the court during Bolsonaro's 2019-23 presidency, André Mendonça and Kassio Nunes Marques, reportedly avoided the sanction, as did a third judge, Luiz Fux. Lula denounced what he called 'another arbitrary and completely groundless measure from the US government'. 'Interference in another country's justice system is unacceptable and offends the basic principles of national sovereignty and respect between nations,' the president said on Saturday, adding: 'I'm certain that no kind of intimidation or threat – from whoever it may be – will compromise the most important mission of our nation's powers and institutions, which is to act permanently to defend and safeguard the democratic rule of law.' The Trump strategist Alex Bruesewitz welcomed Rubio's announcement, calling Bolsonaro's treatment 'sick and wrong'. Bolsonaro's congressman son, Eduardo, thanked Rubio for his decision. 'Thank you very much for this fight in favor of free speech, we do believe in the same values,' tweeted Eduardo, who has been living in the US since February and has reportedly been lobbying officials there over his father's plight. Trump's interventions have appalled millions of Brazilians who hope to see their former leader held responsible for the alleged coup attempt, which culminated in the 8 January riots in Brasília. Lula's institutional relations minister, Gleisi Hoffmann, called the visa cancellations 'an aggressive and petty retaliation' and 'an affront to the Brazilian judiciary and national sovereignty'. Even influential rightwing voices have criticised the US's attempt to meddle in one of the world's most populous democracies by imposing 50% tariffs. On Saturday, the conservative Estado de São Paulo newspaper described Trump's behaviour as 'unacceptable external interference in Brazil's domestic matters'. 'Trump has not only attacked our national sovereignty … [but also] stained the history of diplomatic relations between the two largest democracies in the Americas,' the newspaper's editorial board wrote. While the Bolsonaros have hailed Trump's actions, they also appear to have grasped how the announcement of tariffs has backfired, allowing Lula to pose as a nationalist defender of Brazilian interests and paint the Bolsonaro clan as self-serving 'traitors'. Lula, who had been facing growing public disillusionment and an uphill battle to win re-election next year, has enjoyed a bounce in the polls since Trump launched his trade war, the brunt of which will be borne by coffee producers and cattle ranchers in Bolsonaro-voting regions, such as São Paulo. Celso Rocha de Barros, a political columnist, said he suspected the Bolsonaros had been blindsided by the scale of Trump's attack. 'I think [Bolsonaro] wanted some kind of penalty - something he could use to say: 'Look, Brazil's being punished because of Bolsonaro's persecution. But [the tariffs] went far too far … [they] screwed Bolsonaro's base,' said Rocha de Barros, pointing to their potential impact on agribusiness. On Friday night, Bolsonaro's senator son, Flávio, post on X, calling on Trump to suspend the tariffs and replace them with individual sanctions. Soon after, however, he deleted the post.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brazil's president warns of retaliation after Trump unveils 50 percent tariffs
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned on Wednesday that his government is prepared to retaliate after President Trump announced plans to impose 50 percent tariffs on goods imported from his country. In a statement posted to the social platform X, the Brazilian leader pushed back on 'inaccurate' claims of a U.S. trade deficit in its commercial relationship with Brazil, saying, 'Statistics from the U.S. government itself show a surplus of $410 billion in the trade of goods and services with Brazil over the past 15 years.' 'Therefore, any unilateral tariff increases will be addressed in accordance with Brazil's Economic Reciprocity Law,' Lula continued in the statement. 'Sovereignty, respect and the unwavering defense of the interests of the Brazilian people are the values that guide our relationship with the world,' he added. The Economic Reciprocity Law was signed into law April 14, shortly after Trump announced his sweeping tariffs on numerous countries. The government cited Trump's tariffs as the impetus for the law. The law authorizes the legislative branch to 'adopt countermeasures in the form of restrictions to the importation of goods and services or measures to suspend concessions in the areas of trade, investments, and obligations related to intellectual property rights, as well as measures to suspend other obligations foreseen in any of the country's trade agreements.' Lula's statement comes after Trump announced Wednesday the 50 percent tariff on all goods from Brazil, citing the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro over an alleged plot to remain in power after losing an election. Trump, who has criticized Brazil's treatment of Bolsonaro in recent days, said in a letter to Lula that the new tariffs would take effect Aug. 1 and are 'due in part to Brazil's insidious attacks on Free Elections and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans.' Trump also cited Brazil's 'Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers.' 'The way that Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World during his Term, including by the United States, is an international disgrace. This Trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!' Trump wrote in the letter, which was posted to the president's Truth Social platform. Lula, in his statement late Wednesday, defended the independence of his country's institutions, saying, 'Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage.' 'The judicial proceedings against those responsible for planning the coup d'état fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of Brazil's Judicial Branch and, as such, are not subject to any interference or threats that could compromise the independence of national institutions,' Lula continued. Lula also warned that digital companies must reject 'hateful content' and anti-democratic speech on their platforms if they want to continue operating in Brazil. 'In the context of digital platforms, Brazilian society rejects hateful content, racism, child pornography, scams, fraud, and speeches against human rights and democratic freedom,' he wrote. 'In Brazil, freedom of expression must not be confused with aggression or violent practices. All companies—whether domestic or foreign—must comply with Brazilian law in order to operate within our territory.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Bloomberg
16-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Petrobras Eyes Return to Retail Fuel Sector to Limit Pump Prices
Petrobras is considering a return to retail fuel sales after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the state-controlled oil company's top executive complained about high pump prices. Four years after exiting the business now known as Vibra Energia SA, Petrobras' board of directors will meet this week to discuss amending the company's strategic plan to include a presence in the retail sector, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named discussing private matters.
Al Jazeera
11-07-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Trump's tariff threat to Brazil is a gift to Lula
In a provocative move that fuses foreign policy with ideological allegiance, United States President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian exports, effective August 1, 2025. The announcement came in a letter posted on social media, in which Trump explicitly linked the proposed tariffs to two ongoing domestic issues in Brazil: the judicial proceedings against far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro – whom Trump described as the victim of a political 'witch-hunt' – and recent rulings by the Brazilian Supreme Court against US-based social media companies, including former Trump ally Elon Musk's X. By doing so, Trump has escalated a trade dispute into a direct attempt to influence Brazil's internal affairs – using economic pressure to serve political ends and undermining the country's sovereignty in the process. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio 'Lula' da Silva responded swiftly and unequivocally: 'Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage,' he declared, adding that Brazil's judiciary is autonomous and not subject to interference or threat. Under Brazilian law, digital platforms are obligated to monitor and remove content that incites violence or undermines democratic institutions, and they may be held legally accountable when they fail to do so. While a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian exports might appear economically devastating, it could in fact become a strategic turning point – and even a blessing in disguise. Brazil has both the resilience and the diplomatic tools to weather this storm and emerge stronger. The United States is one of Brazil's largest trading partners, typically ranking second after China – or third if the European Union is considered as a single bloc. Brazilian exports to the US include industrial goods such as Embraer aircraft, iron and steel, crude oil, coffee and semiprecious stones, alongside agricultural products like beef, orange juice, eggs and tobacco. In return, Brazil imports large quantities of US-manufactured goods, including machinery, electronics, medical equipment, chemicals and refined petroleum. Notably, the US has maintained a trade surplus with Brazil for the past five years. Should Washington proceed with the 50 percent tariffs, Brasília has several retaliatory options under its Economic Reciprocity Law. These include raising import tariffs on US goods, suspending clauses in bilateral trade agreements, and – in exceptional cases such as this – withholding recognition of US patents or suspending royalty payments to American companies. The impact on US consumers could be immediate and tangible, with breakfast staples like coffee, eggs and orange juice spiking in price. Brazil is not without friends or alternatives. The country has already been deepening ties with fellow BRICS members (China, India, Russia, South Africa) and newer partners in the bloc. This dispute only strengthens the case for accelerating such integration. Diversifying export markets and embracing South-South cooperation isn't just ideological; it's economically pragmatic. Closer to home, the tension presents an opportunity to reinvigorate South American integration. The long-held regional dream of enhanced collaboration – from trade to infrastructure – could gain new momentum as Brazil reassesses its global alignments. This realignment could breathe life into stalled Mercosur bloc initiatives and reduce dependence on an increasingly erratic relationship with the US. Ironically, Trump's aggressive move may weaken his ideological allies in Brazil. While Bolsonaro supporters (including members of his family) have praised the US president's intervention, they may be missing its broader political consequences. Trump's past influence abroad has often backfired, with right-wing candidates in countries like Canada and Australia paying the price. A similar outcome in Brazil is not unthinkable. Lula, who has consistently positioned himself as a pragmatic, diplomatic and stabilising global figure, may gain political ground from this latest episode. His defence of sovereignty, democratic institutions and balanced international relations could resonate more deeply with Brazilian voters ahead of next year's elections. This moment need not be seen as a crisis. Rather, it presents a pivotal opportunity for Brazil to assert itself as a sovereign economic power – less reliant on Washington and more engaged with an emerging multipolar global order. If Lula navigates it wisely, Trump's latest provocation may deliver not only a diplomatic win but a significant boost to his re-election prospects. In attempting to punish Brazil, Trump may well have undercut both his foreign policy ambitions and his ideological allies abroad. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial stance.
