Image source, Getty Images
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- Author, Writing
- Author's title, BBC News World
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced Wednesday that he will impose a new 50% tariff to products from Brazil.
Through a letter addressed to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Trump explained that his decision responds to several factors of the United States relationship with the South American country.
“I met and dealt with former president Jair Bolsonaro, and had great respect, like most other leaders from other countries. The way Brazil has treated former president Bolsonaro, a very respected leader worldwide during his mandate, even by the United States, is an international shame. This trial should not be held. It is a witch hunt that must end immediately!
Trump and Bolsonaro agreed as presidents in the first period of the American in the White House. Bolsonaro's children have been supporters of the political project of the Republican since then.
Trump also pointed out that in Brazil an “attack on the freedom of expression of the Americans” has occurred by the orders of the Supreme Court of Brazil against social media platforms “threatening them with millionaire fines and the expulsion of the Brazilian market of social networks.”
In addition, he justified his decision by stating that since the last US and Brazil dragged a commercial relationship that “has been far from reciprocal” and that “50% is much less than what is needed to achieve equal conditions that we must have with their country.”
He warned that if Brazil responds with reciprocal tariffs, taxes would increase another 50%. But it also left open the possibility of negotiating so that Brazil opens its market to the United States without taxes and there is a balance in the commercial balance.
50% taxes to Brazil's imports would enter into force as of August 1.
The United States is the second most important commercial partner in Brazil, only behind China.
Historically, the trade balance has been favorable for Americans, who have accumulated a surplus of US $ 43,000 million in the last ten years, according to the US Chamber of Commerce for Brazil.
Image source, Getty Images
The BRICS and Bolsonaro
On Tuesday, Trump had already threatened to impose 10% tariffs on BRICS countries, a block that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The threat occurred shortly after the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, headed by President Lula Da Silva. The final statement of the Summit criticized the economic and military policies of the Trump government, without directly appointing the United States or its president.
In April, Trump announced an increase in tariffs for the countries of the world, which in the Brazilian case was 10% for products sold to the United States. A few days later, he postponed the entry of many of them.
The rate was considered positively in Brazil, since it was the lowest of the additional rates imposed by Trump. Even so, the Brazilian government hoped to reverse the increase through negotiations.
Trump had defended former president Bolsonaro in a message posted on his social networks in which he pointed out that he was a victim of political persecution.
President Lula then responded that “the defense of democracy in Brazil is an issue that competes with Brazilians. We are a sovereign country. We do not accept interference or guardianships of anyone.”
Subsequently, this Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited the Business Manager of the American Embassy, Gabriel Escobar, to ask for explanations for the US defense to Bolsonaro.
The citation of a diplomatic representative is one of the measures applied by governments to express their disagreement with the performance of another country.
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