Brazil's Lula pushes back against tariff, tells Trump the country's
democracy 'is not on the table'
[September 15, 2025]
By ELÉONORE HUGHES and EDUARDO FRANÇOIS
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on
Sunday pushed back against a 50% tariff on Brazilian imported goods to
the United States, arguing that it was “political” and “illogical.”
Lula said in a New York Times op-ed that his government is open to
negotiating anything that can bring mutual benefits. “But Brazil’s
democracy and sovereignty are not on the table,” he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump imposed the tariff on Brazil in July, citing
what he called a “witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro,
who at the time stood accused of trying to illegally hang onto power.
The trial came to an end on Thursday after a panel of Supreme Court
justices ruled that Bolsonaro had attempted a coup after his 2022
electoral defeat to Lula, sparking fears of further U.S. measures
against Brazil.
Lula said he was proud of the Supreme Court for its “historic decision”
which safeguards Brazil's institutions, the democratic rule of law and
is not a “witch hunt.”
“(The ruling) followed months of investigations that uncovered plans to
assassinate me, the vice president and a Supreme Court justice,” Lula
said.
Lula added that the tariff increase was “not only misguided but
illogical,” citing the surplus of $410 billion in bilateral trade in
goods and services the U.S. has accumulated over the past 15 years.
The op-ed is a sign that Brazil is bracing for more possible sanctions
after the Supreme Court's decision.
After Thursday’s ruling, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X
that Trump’s government “will respond accordingly.”
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry called Rubio’s comments an inappropriate
threat that wouldn’t intimidate the government, saying the country’s
judiciary is independent and that Bolsonaro was granted due process.
Bolsonaro on Sunday briefly left his home in Brasilia where he is under
house arrest to undergo a medical procedure at a nearby hospital, his
first public appearance since Thursday's ruling.
Escorted by police, Bolsonaro went to the DF Star hospital in Brazil's
capital in the morning for procedures related to skin lesions — a
temporary release granted by Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Sept. 8.
He was later discharged, doctors from the hospital said in a statement.
Medical staff removed eight skin lesions that will be sent for analysis
to establish a definitive diagnosis and assess the need for further
treatment.
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Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gives a joint statement
with Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu, at Planalto presidential
palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, on Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo
Peres, File)
The 70-year-old far-right politician was placed under house arrest
in early August, after de Moraes said that Bolsonaro had violated
precautionary measures imposed on him in the context of the coup
trial. He had already been wearing an ankle monitor.
In late August, de Moraes increased security measures further and
ordered that police conduct inspections of all vehicles leaving
Bolsonaro’s residence and monitor the exterior of the house.
After the medical visit, Bolsonaro must file a certificate of
attendance, indicating the date and times of the appointments, to
the Supreme Court.
Bolsonaro’s son Carlos took to social media to complain about what
he deemed to be excessive policing around his father’s trip to the
hospital.
“I’m with my father and witnessing the continuation of the biggest
circus in Brazilian history,” he wrote on X. “A convoy with more
than 20 men ostensibly armed with rifles (…) just to promote the
humiliation of an honest man.”
Die-hard supporters of Bolsonaro awaited the ex-president when he
arrived at the hospital on Sunday and greeted him with shouts of
“Amnesty now!” The chant is in reference to the push of Bolsonaro’s
allies in Congress to grant the former president some kind of
amnesty.
“We’re here to provide spiritual and psychological support,” said
Deusélis Filho, 46, the president of a group of Bolsonaro supporters
called Influencers of Brazil.
Thursday's sentence doesn’t mean that Bolsonaro will immediately go
to prison. The court panel has now up to 60 days to publish the
ruling. Once it does, Bolsonaro’s lawyers have five days to file
motions for clarification.
His lawyers have said that they will try to appeal both the
conviction and sentence before the full Supreme Court of 11
justices, although some experts think it’s unlikely to be accepted.
___
Eléonore Hughes reported from Rio de Janeiro.
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