Flávio says that the new US tariff is against Lula and not against companies

Presidency candidate Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) stated this Tuesday (2) that the 25% tariff on Brazilian products recently announced by the USA is not aimed at companies, but rather at President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). The senator said the measure was motivated by the president's stance and his "anti-American sentiment."

"So, it's not Brazilian companies that are being taxed. It's President Lula who is being taxed: it's him and his behavior, it's his threats to the United States and his anti-American sentiment. It's his ideology being placed before the interests of the Brazilian people that could cause Brazilian companies to be taxed once again," he declared.

Flávio also stated that the new tariffs would be the result of actions that would have started in 2025 and are not related to his meeting with American President Donald Trump a week ago.

"It wasn't last week when I was there to defend Brazil, to help Brazil have more public security. This tariff, which may be announced soon, is Lula's tariff, people."

Sources consulted by CNN Brasil state that Flávio was instructed to disassociate himself from a speech in favor of tariffs. Earlier, he sent a letter to the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, asking the American government to spare Brazil from the new tariffs.

The measure, which was recommended by the USTR (United States Trade Representative), used as justification "secret court orders" against Big Techs, citing the ban of X in 2024; and the fact that the BCB (Brazilian Central Bank) acts as regulator and operator of PIX, which the US body classified as a conflict of interest; among other topics.

In recent months, Palácio do Planalto tried to block the investigation that the US conducted into Brazil and which resulted in the recently announced tariffs.

This Tuesday, President Lula said he is "waiting for a call from Trump". "This agreement cannot have your consent, because we both agreed on 30 days to have a response on what we proposed," he said. "You owe me a meeting and I owe you one. Because we gave our ministers 30 days to negotiate. So, I'm waiting for a call from you to explain to me what happened in your absence and in my absence."

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Source: CNN