SAO PAULO, June 2 (Reuters) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday highlighted his country’s ties with China after the U.S. proposed a new punitive tariff of 25% on many imports from Latin America’s largest economy.
• Lula hailed China’s decision earlier in the day to recognize Brazil as free of foot-and-mouth disease, calling it a counterpoint to the U.S. move.
• “If you don’t want to buy from me, I will sell to someone else,” Lula said during an event in Goias state.
• The leftist leader said he learned of the tariff proposal during trade talks, adding that U.S. and Brazilian trade negotiators had met three times recently but failed to reach a deal.
• Lula blamed Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro for the U.S. proposal, accusing the right-wing presidential hopeful of lobbying Washington to impose tariffs.
• Brazil’s president also blasted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying he is anti-Latin America and does not like Brazil.
• Bolsonaro said earlier on Tuesday he had urged Trump not to impose tariffs on Brazilian companies.
• The U.S. embassy in Brazil did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo and Eduardo Simoes; Additional reporting by Oliver Griffin; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Paul Simao)
