"Unacceptable blackmail”: Brazil’s Lula slams Trump’s tariff threat

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday slammed Donald Trump's threat to impose 50 percent tariffs on Brazil as "unacceptable blackmail."

Lula's comments during a nationally televised speech were the latest in series of tense exchanges between the leaders, with the US president launching especially blistering attacks on the government in Brazil.

Trump announced on July 9 his intention to slap steep tariffs on Brazil as punishment for what he termed a "witch hunt" against his far-right ally the former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The tariffs on all products from Brazil would kick in on August 1 if Brasilia and Washington do not reach an agreement.

In his speech, leftist leader Lula slammed Brazilian politicians who "support" Trump's policies as "traitors to the homeland."

He said he would continue "betting on good commercial and diplomatic relations" but warned that "Brazil has only one owner: the Brazilian people."

Earlier on Thursday, Trump posted a letter addressed to Bolsonaro on his Truth Social platform in which he insisted Lula's government "changes course."

"I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you," Trump wrote to Bolsonaro.

"I have strongly voiced my disapproval both publicly and through our Tariff policy," he added.

Bolsonaro is facing trial over accusations he plotted a coup after his narrow 2022 election loss to Lula.

Brazil earlier this week said it was committed to negotiations after the United States announced it would probe "unfair trade practices" by Latin America's largest economy.

But it also expressed "indignation" at the stiff levy in a letter addressed to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Brazil had not been among dozens of economies previously threatened by Trump with duties above a 10 percent baseline.

The United States runs a goods trade surplus with Brazil, which said it had repeatedly requested Washington to point out areas of particular concern.