Here in Brazil, we Brazilians are in charge
Em meio a tensões comerciais crescentes entre as duas maiores economias das Américas, o presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva rejeitou publicamente a ameaça tarifária de Donald Trump não apenas como injusta, mas como ilegítima em sua própria forma — uma carta divulgada em rede social, não por canais diplomáticos. O episódio revela algo mais profundo do que uma disputa comercial: é um embate sobre quem define as regras do jogo global e quem tem o direito de exigi-las. O Brasil, ao contestar os números, defender sua soberania jurídica e ameaçar reciprocidade, posiciona-se como nação que não aceita ser tratada como subordinada.
- Trump anunciou uma tarifa de 50% sobre produtos brasileiros a partir de 1º de agosto, publicando a ameaça em sua própria plataforma de mídia social — um gesto que Lula classificou como 'material apócrifo', questionando a própria autenticidade e legitimidade da comunicação.
- A carta foi além do comércio: Trump defendeu Bolsonaro, chamou seu julgamento de 'caça às bruxas' e exigiu que o Brasil afrouxe restrições a plataformas tecnológicas americanas, invadindo diretamente assuntos da soberania interna brasileira.
- Lula contestou os dados econômicos apresentados por Trump, afirmando que os Estados Unidos, na verdade, tiveram superávit comercial com o Brasil no ano passado — exportando 47 bilhões de dólares contra 40 bilhões importados.
- O governo brasileiro sinalizou que, se as negociações fracassarem, acionará a Lei da Reciprocidade e poderá recorrer à Organização Mundial do Comércio, enquanto Lula afirmou sem rodeios: 'Se ele nos cobrar 50%, nós cobraremos 50% deles.'
- Lula sugeriu que a hostilidade de Trump pode ter raízes na articulação dos países do Sul Global pelo BRICS, e encerrou com uma afirmação de soberania: 'Aqui no Brasil, quem manda são os brasileiros.'
Na quinta-feira à noite, o presidente Lula concedeu entrevista à TV Record e foi direto ao ponto: o que mais o incomodou na ameaça tarifária de Trump não foi o conteúdo, mas a forma. Trump havia publicado em sua rede social uma carta anunciando uma tarifa de 50% sobre todos os produtos brasileiros a partir de 1º de agosto, e Lula chamou o documento de 'material apócrifo' — o tipo de correspondência que ataca a honra de uma nação e que nenhum presidente deveria enviar por um site pessoal em vez de canais diplomáticos oficiais. 'O Brasil é um país que, se o presidente Trump soubesse algo sobre ele, mostraria mais respeito', disse Lula.
A carta de Trump foi além do comércio: defendeu Bolsonaro, classificou seu julgamento como 'caça às bruxas' e exigiu que o Brasil flexibilizasse restrições a empresas de tecnologia americanas. Lula respondeu com firmeza: a Justiça brasileira é independente, e Bolsonaro responde por seus atos da mesma forma que Trump responderia se tivesse feito no Brasil o que fez em 6 de janeiro. 'Aqui, quem define as regras somos nós', disse o presidente.
Nos números, Lula também contestou Trump. Enquanto o americano alegou déficit comercial com o Brasil, Lula apresentou dados opostos: os EUA exportaram 47 bilhões de dólares ao Brasil no ano passado, contra 40 bilhões importados. 'A equipe dele não tem conhecimento para explicar isso e evitar insultar outro país?', questionou.
Apesar do tom duro, Lula deixou a porta aberta para negociações — os ministérios brasileiros já dialogam com Washington desde abril. Mas deixou claro o limite: se as conversas fracassarem, o Brasil acionará a Lei da Reciprocidade e poderá recorrer à OMC. Lula ainda especulou que a irritação de Trump pode ter origem na coordenação do BRICS, e encerrou com ironia e firmeza: 'Um dia vou convidá-lo para o BRICS. Mas o que ele não pode fazer é agir como xerife do mundo.'
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sat down with TV Record on Thursday evening and delivered a sharp rebuke to Donald Trump's tariff threat, but what struck him most was not the substance of the message—it was the manner of its delivery. Trump had published a letter on Truth Social announcing a 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian products entering the United States starting August 1st, and Lula found the whole thing suspect. He called it "apocryphal material," the kind of correspondence that attacks a nation's honor, and he questioned why any sitting president would conduct such serious business through a social media platform rather than through proper diplomatic channels.
"It's not customary to send correspondence to a republic's president through your own website," Lula said, his tone mixing bewilderment with indignation. "Brazil is a country that, if President Trump knew anything about it, he would show more respect." The Brazilian leader was not simply objecting to the tone. Trump's letter had ventured into domestic Brazilian affairs, defending former president Jair Bolsonaro and calling his ongoing trial a "witch hunt," while also demanding that Brazil loosen restrictions on American technology platforms. Lula made clear that Brazil's courts operate independently and that Bolsonaro's prosecution is not political. He drew a pointed comparison: if Trump's actions on January 6th had occurred in Brazil, he would face the same legal consequences Bolsonaro does now.
On the economic claims underpinning the tariff threat, Lula disputed Trump's framing entirely. Trump had cited unfair Brazilian trade practices and a trade deficit with the United States. But Lula presented different numbers: last year, the United States actually ran a surplus with Brazil, exporting 47 billion dollars while importing 40 billion. "Does his team not have the knowledge to explain this and avoid insulting another country?" Lula asked. The Brazilian president also pushed back on Trump's complaints about how American tech companies are regulated in Brazil. "Here, we set the rules," Lula said. "Congress and the courts decide. Anyone operating in this country must respect our laws."
Despite the sharp language, Lula signaled openness to negotiation. Brazil's Foreign Ministry and its trade ministry have been in dialogue with the United States since April, when Trump first imposed a 10 percent tariff. But Lula made clear what would happen if talks failed: Brazil would invoke the Law of Reciprocity. "If he charges us 50 percent, we'll charge them 50 percent," he said flatly. He also indicated that Brazil might bring the dispute before the World Trade Organization, potentially joining other nations that have been hit by American tariffs.
Lula offered a broader theory about what might be driving Trump's hostility. He suggested the American president may be frustrated by the coordination among Global South nations, particularly the BRICS bloc—a group that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. "Maybe he was bothered by the BRICS meeting, since he didn't participate in the G7 and we did," Lula mused. He even extended a playful invitation: "One day I'll invite him to join BRICS. If he wants to come, he'll be welcome."
But beneath the humor lay a firm assertion of sovereignty. "What he cannot do is act like the world's sheriff," Lula said. "He was elected president of the United States. He can do what he wants there. But here in Brazil, we Brazilians are in charge." The new tariff is set to take effect in August, though Trump's letter suggested it could be revised if Brazil removes trade barriers. For now, the Brazilian government is weighing its diplomatic, commercial, and legal options, preparing for a confrontation that neither side appears eager to back away from.
Citações Notáveis
It's not customary to send correspondence to a republic's president through your own website. Brazil is a country that, if President Trump knew anything about it, he would show more respect.— President Lula, in interview with TV Record
If he charges us 50 percent, we'll charge them 50 percent.— President Lula, on reciprocal tariff response
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why did Lula focus so much on how the letter was sent rather than what it said?
Because the method itself is a statement. A president doesn't conduct serious trade negotiations through social media with another head of state. It's dismissive. It treats Brazil as something less than a peer.
But Trump's tariff threat is real, regardless of the channel. Doesn't that matter more?
Of course it matters. But Lula is signaling that he won't be bullied into accepting the premise of the letter—that Brazil is cheating or that Trump gets to dictate Brazil's internal policies. By questioning the letter's legitimacy, he's refusing to engage on Trump's terms.
Lula disputed the trade deficit numbers. How confident is he in those figures?
Confident enough to cite them publicly. The data shows the U.S. actually exports more to Brazil than it imports. If Lula's numbers are wrong, Trump would have corrected him immediately. The silence suggests they're accurate.
What's the reciprocal tariff threat really about?
It's a negotiating position. Lula is saying: we don't want this fight, but we're not afraid of it. If you hit us with 50 percent, we hit back the same way. It's a way of saying the pain will be mutual.
Why bring up BRICS?
Because Lula thinks Trump is acting from a place of geopolitical anxiety, not economic logic. The BRICS coordination represents a shift in global power—the South organizing without the North. That threatens American dominance. The tariffs might be less about trade and more about reasserting control.
Can Brazil actually win this?
Not in the traditional sense. Brazil is smaller economically. But it can make the cost high enough that negotiation becomes preferable to confrontation. And it can build alliances—other countries are facing the same tariffs. That's leverage.