Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks out at a ministerial meeting at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on Wednesday against announcements from the Trump administration threatening additional tariffs on Brazil over alleged unfair Brazilian trade practices. Photo by Andre Borges/EPA
June 3 (UPI) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused the Bolsonaro family of acting as "traitors to the nation" by allegedly lobbying the U.S. government to impose a 25% tariff on Brazilian goods and take action against Brazil's PIX electronic payment system.
The accusation stems from a trip the sons of former President Jair Bolsonaro, Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro and Rep. Eduardo Bolsonaro, made to Washington in late May to meet with President Donald Trump and senior administration officials.
Days after the meetings, the U.S. government announced it would designate Brazil's major criminal organizations, Primeiro Comando da Capital, or PCC, and Comando Vermelho, or CV, as terrorist organizations.
This week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative concluded an investigation that accused Brazil of adopting practices that "burden or restrict" U.S. commerce. The report cited concerns involving the PIX payment system, illegal deforestation, intellectual property piracy and shortcomings in the enforcement of anti-corruption laws.
