Lula blasts Rubio's 'concerning behavior' as Brazil-US tariff dispute escalates
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has sharply criticised U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describing him as a “frustrated Latin American” and accusing Washington of using false claims to justify proposed tariffs on Brazilian exports.
Speaking at an event in Brasilia on Wednesday, Lula condemned a U.S. proposal to impose a 25 percent tariff on Brazilian goods and singled out Rubio for criticism.
“Marco Rubio does not like Latin America, and even less so Brazil,” Lula said. “His behaviour towards Latin America is concerning.”
The Brazilian president said his government would take diplomatic steps in response to the growing tensions and insisted Brazil would not accept measures that undermine its economic sovereignty.
“We cannot accept the treatment that the United States gave to Brazil this week,” Lula said, while stressing that his government remained open to dialogue.
Lula also challenged Washington’s justification for the proposed tariffs, arguing that the United States does not face a trade imbalance with Brazil.
“It is a tax based on falsehoods,” he said. “If anyone were to impose a tax, it would be Brazil against the United States, not the United States against Brazil.”
The dispute follows a proposal by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to impose a 25 percent tariff on Brazilian imports, a move Washington says is intended to protect domestic industries.
Despite the escalating rhetoric, Lula said he was not seeking confrontation with the United States or other major global powers.
“What I want is to demonstrate that it is only possible to live in peace if we strengthen democracy, strengthen multilateralism, and handle relations between heads of state responsibly,” he said.
Brazil has warned that it is considering reciprocal trade measures, while maintaining that the proposed U.S. tariffs are unjustified and harmful to bilateral relations.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
