Tariffs: Brazil demands respect
In the flurry of July tariff letters that US president, Donald Trump, has sent to trading partners around the world, the country he seems to have singled out for the most punitive measures is Brazil.
He announced that, from August 1, imports into the US from Brazil would incur a tariff rate of 50%.
In response, Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said he was committed to negotiating an agreement with the US that would prevent the 50% tariffs from coming into effect.
He added: “In Brazil, we resolve things with dialogue and not on the basis of applying pressure. Brazil ought to be respected. It is time that people showed Brazil that respect. We demand that respect.”
He pointed out that if Brazil’s attempts to negotiate a deal with the US are unsuccessful, its response will be to apply reciprocal 50% tariffs on imports from the US.
