Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday that more trade and financial integration among the BRICS group of developing nations would help mitigate the effects of protectionism. "Tariff blackmail is being normalized as a tool for conquering markets and interfering in domestic issues,

Brazilian President Lula da Silva has denounced U.S. tariffs as 'tariff blackmail' during a BRICS meeting, responding to a 50% import duty imposed by the U.S. He criticized the presence of U.S. forces in the Caribbean and highlighted Brazil's plan to retaliate and seek WTO intervention.