Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Brazil Rejects US Tariffs, Plans WTO Challenge

Brazil denounced the United States’ 12.5% tariffs on its exports and 59 other trading partners as completely arbitrary and unjustified, saying Washington lacks a legal basis and is using human-rights concerns to advance protectionism. Brasília pledged immediate retaliation under its Reciprocity Law and to take the dispute to the WTO, while Lula signaled willingness to negotiate but warned Brazil will seek alternative markets if needed.