Trump is committing 'very serious economic aggression' and Lula needs to reciprocate, says Ricupero

BRASILIA - The 50% tariff on Brazilian products is unprecedented and the most serious act in relations between Brazil and the United States , according to former Brazilian ambassador to Italy and former Finance Minister Rubens Ricupero . He said U.S. President Donald Trump is making an "unacceptable intervention" against national sovereignty, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva must act reciprocally.

"This is an extremely serious matter, the most serious in relations between the two countries for the following reasons: it came from President Trump himself, the highest authority in the United States. It wasn't a mere statement on social media, but was made in a letter addressed directly to President Lula. It begins with an unacceptable intervention against national sovereignty, which justifies, in my view, returning the message," Ricupero told Estadão/Broadcast .

According to Ricupero, the tariff announced by Trump constitutes "very serious economic aggression" to defend former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), and makes any Brazilian exports to the US impossible. The former ambassador believes the measure forces Brazil to respond "in kind."

"Besides the political aggression and the stance taken in favor of someone convicted by the Brazilian justice system, it also constitutes a very serious economic aggression. The punitive 50% tariff makes any Brazilian exports to the United States unviable and forces Brazil to react in kind," said Ricupero.

In an official statement published Wednesday night, the 9th, Lula said that "any unilateral tariff increase will be met in light of the Brazilian Economic Reciprocity Law." "Sovereignty, respect, and the uncompromising defense of the interests of the Brazilian people are the values ​​that guide our relationship with the world," the Brazilian president stated.

Lula's response was released after the president held an emergency meeting with Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, and the Ministers of Finance, Fernando Haddad, and Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira.

Ambassadors also advocate for Brazil to adopt a pragmatic stance to resolve the impasse with the United States. Former Brazilian ambassador to South Korea Sergio Barbosa Serra said the government cannot "politicize" the tariffs, but must adopt a cautious tone.

Among the measures to address the situation, the former ambassador stated that it was important for the government's economic leadership and the Vice President and Minister of Industry, Geraldo Alckmin, to travel to the United States.

"We can't politicize this and make it a matter of domestic politics. We have to negotiate to overcome these adversities. But we have to know that there's an unpredictable person on the other side. We can't confront them because it could be worse for Brazil," said Barbosa Serra.

Trump announced on Wednesday that the tariff on products imported from Brazil will be 50%, starting August 1st.

The Republican argued that the tax level is due to court orders that "censor" American social media and inhibit the freedom of expression of US citizens. According to Trump, these attacks in Brazil originate from the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

In the document published on Truth Social , the US president highlights the retaliation clause and threatens to raise tariffs even further if Brazil responds with similar measures. "If for any reason you decide to increase your tariffs, the amount you choose will be added to the [amount] we charge," the text reads.