- By Shivangi Sharma
- Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:40 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has sharply criticised US President Donald Trump for threatening countries with tariffs via social media, calling the move "irresponsible" and unbecoming of a world leader.
Speaking to reporters after the BRICS summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Lula dismissed Trump's recent remarks targeting countries aligned with the BRICS bloc. “It is not responsible for a president from a country like the United States to threaten the world with tariffs on social media,” Lula stated. “That is not how a world leader should act.”
The criticism came in response to Trump’s warning issued on Sunday via his social media platform. Trump wrote, “Any country aligning itself with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10 per cent tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy.”
Trump's remarks follow his long-standing scepticism and criticism of the BRICS alliance, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The US president accused the bloc of pursuing “anti-American policies” and reiterated that countries siding with BRICS could face punitive economic measures.
Brazil Says Tariff Threats Hurt Global Ties
In response, Lula said that such threats would not deter independent foreign policy decisions. “Every sovereign country has the right to define its own trade and diplomatic interests,” he said. “If the United States imposes tariffs, other countries also have the right to respond accordingly.”
He further clarified that no BRICS leaders had discussed Trump’s threat during the summit. “Nobody at the BRICS summit talked about Trump’s tariff threats,” Lula said, brushing aside any immediate concerns of retaliation.
Earlier this year, Trump announced a wave of proposed tariffs on international goods, some reaching up to 50 per cent, as part of what he called "Liberation Day." Although those plans were temporarily suspended to allow for negotiations, he imposed a 10 per cent baseline tariff on most imports. The deadline for reaching a trade agreement was set for July 9, and with no consensus reached, the US is now expected to begin implementing increased tariffs starting August 1.
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Trump has also stated that countries would soon receive formal letters detailing their specific tariff rates if agreements were not met. While Trump's strategy is designed to pressure trading partners into fairer deals, Lula emphasised that threats and unilateral actions only damage diplomatic relationships. “We live in a global economy,” he said. “Mutual respect and cooperation must be the foundation, not social media ultimatums.”
