International-News

Trump imposes 50% tariffs on copper: clash with China and Brazil

The president announces new tariffs effective from 1 August. Beijing criticises protectionist policies, Lula warns: ‘Brazil will not accept interference’

Donald Trump relaunches his protectionist offensive with a new chapter in the global trade war. In a post published on Truth, the American president announced that 50% tariffs on copper imports will come into effect on 1 August. According to Trump, this move aims to revive the domestic industry in a sector that is crucial for defence and technological innovation.

‘Copper is necessary for semiconductors, aircraft, ammunition, radar and missile defence systems, data centres, lithium-ion batteries and hypersonic weapons. It is the second most used material by the Department of Defence,“ he wrote. He then attacked the previous administration, accusing it of ‘decimating a strategic industry”, and made the following promise: ‘These 50% tariffs will put America back on track. This is our golden age!’

International reactions were immediate. China harshly criticised the decision: ‘We oppose the abuse of the concept of national security,’ said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Tariff wars have no winners and hurt everyone.” Beijing fears that the American move could damage the global supply chain for strategic metals.

Brazil’s reaction was equally harsh. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva responded to Trump’s statements and the tariffs announced for Brazilian products, calling them unacceptable. ‘Brazil is a sovereign state with independent institutions,’ Lula wrote on X. ‘We will not accept any external protection. We will defend our sovereignty and the interests of the Brazilian people.’

Lula also rejected Trump’s criticism of the legal proceedings against Jair Bolsonaro, calling it ‘interference’ in the Brazilian judiciary. On the economic front, he called the tycoon’s claims about the alleged trade deficit between the United States and Brazil ‘inaccurate,’ warning that ‘any unilateral increase in tariffs will be handled in accordance with Brazilian economic reciprocity law.’

The American president’s decision now risks triggering new tensions at the global level, with repercussions on markets and diplomatic relations between Washington, Beijing and Brasilia.

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