Brazil's Lula sets out plan to address Trump's tariff threat

BRASILIA: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday (June 3) that his country has been trying to negotiate tariffs with the United States, but vowed to take action if no agreement is reached.

AI Brief

Trump plans to double steel tariffs, affecting imports from major countries and escalating trade tensions.
Brazil's Lula supports Canada amid Trump's annexation talk and defends Brazil's judiciary from US criticism.
Lula seeks global cooperation with China on regulating social media to fight misinformation.

President Donald Trump on Friday (May 30) said he planned to increase tariffs on imports of steel from 25% to 50%, ratcheting up pressure on global steel producers and vowing to deepen his trade war.

The tariffs would apply to millions of tons of steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and other countries that had been entering the U.S. duty free.

Lula also expressed his solidarity with Canada's new prime minister Mark Carney after Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to annex Canada, a proposition fiercely rebuffed by Carney. The leader added that he will seek to strengthen their relationship.

The Brazilian president also took the chance to criticize again the statements of the U.S. government against the actions of the minister of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Alexandre de Moraes.

He stated that the United States must understand the importance of respecting the integrity of other countries' institutions.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has clashed with X over compliance with orders to take down accounts accused of spreading misinformation. Trump's media company, along with video sharing platform Rumble, has also sued the judge over an order to remove the accounts of Allan dos Santos, a U.S.-based supporter of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

Regarding social networks, Lula stated that he intends to begin talks with China to promote a global initiative on social media regulation to combat false information.

His remarks came a day before Brazil's Supreme Court resumes discussion of whether social media platforms are responsible for content posted by users.