São Paulo erupts over U.S. import tariffs
Protests erupted in São Paulo as demonstrators expressed outrage over U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, set to take effect on August 1. Initially organized to support the Brazilian government's economic policies and a proposed tax on high-income earners, the demonstration quickly shifted focus in response to the tariff news. The crowd, comprising members and supporters of the ruling Workers’ Party, displayed flags and signs backing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, while setting fire to an effigy of Trump and a U.S. flag, chanting slogans like “Brazil is ours.”
The tariff announcement, outlined in a letter from Trump to President Lula, criticized the legal proceedings against Lula’s predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, labeling them a “witch hunt.” This letter intensified the public feud between the two leaders and sparked widespread condemnation among protesters, who viewed the tariff as an infringement on Brazil’s sovereignty.
In response to the tariff decision, President Lula invoked Brazil's reciprocity law, which allows for equivalent tariffs against countries that discriminate against Brazilian exports. He stated, "If he charges 50%, we will charge 50%," signaling Brazil's readiness to impose retaliatory measures if negotiations do not yield results.
The U.S. administration's tariff increase is partly attributed to Brazil's involvement in the BRICS coalition and perceived mistreatment of Bolsonaro, an ally of Trump. The former U.S. president also criticized Brazil for its legal actions against Bolsonaro and accused the country of unfairly censoring U.S. social media platforms, framing the tariffs as political retaliation.
In addition to the protests, Brazilian citizens launched a social media campaign called "Vampetaço," flooding Trump's online profiles with memes and AI-generated content to express their disapproval, which led to restrictions on comments on Trump's Instagram account.
