Trump's tariff hike is unacceptable blackmail, says the PT (Workers' Party) caucus in the Chamber of Deputies.
Brazilian lawmakers accused the US of using trade barriers as a weapon to pressure Brazil into granting amnesty to "coup plotters and traitors to the nation."
247 - US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday (30) raising tariffs on Brazilian products to 50%, with exceptions for strategic sectors such as orange juice, oil, vehicles and civilian aircraft. The measure was interpreted by members of the Workers' Party (PT) as a political-economic offensive against national sovereignty.
In a statement, the Workers' Party (PT) caucus in the Chamber of Deputies described the new tariff as "unacceptable blackmail" and accused the US of using trade barriers as a weapon to pressure Brazil into granting amnesty to "coup plotters and traitors to the nation."
The caption also alleged that the action was linked to the sanction imposed, on the same day, on Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court, based on the Magnitsky Act — US legislation to punish foreigners accused of corruption or human rights violations.
“The action is coordinated with the sanction applied against Minister Alexandre de Moraes via the Magnitsky Law and exposes the offensive: an imperialist, extraterritorial and illegal action, orchestrated by the fascist international,” the text says. According to the party, the objective would be to intimidate Brazilian institutions and “subjugate Brazil as a neocolony.”
"We will not back down: this is Brazil, and we will continue trying to negotiate tariffs on a multilateral level, without prejudice to seeking new markets, strengthening the BRICS, and protecting our Constitution, democracy, and our sovereignty," the statement says.
The group also announced responses to the United States' actions against Brazil: "The first step will begin with total pressure for the removal of Eduardo Bolsonaro from office."
“We have filed several requests for the removal and precautionary suspension of Eduardo Bolsonaro's mandate with the Ethics Committee, pending analysis by the Board of Directors, due to the parliamentarian's actions abroad against national interests. A campaign is underway on the Avaaz platform demanding his immediate removal,” the statement informed. “Finally, we have already asked Minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of inquiry 4995, to prevent Eduardo Bolsonaro from holding any public office, including the precautionary suspension from his parliamentary mandate, for treason against the Nation.”
