Brazilian president warns of retaliation if US-Brazil tariff talks fail

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced on Thursday that Brazil will negotiate with the United States but is prepared to implement reciprocal countermeasures if necessary, in the wake of U.S. threats to impose additional tariffs on Brazilian exports.

After U.S. President Donald Trump stated in a letter on Wednesday that a 50-percent tariff will be imposed on Brazilian goods, Lula said Brazil will pursue bilateral negotiations while filing a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization against the unilateral tariffs imposed by the U.S.

He warned that if talks fail, Brazil would lawfully impose reciprocal 50 percent tariffs on U.S. exports.

Lula also held a meeting with heads of government departments on Wednesday. According to the Presidential Chief of Staff's Office, the Brazilian government will establish a task force handling U.S. tariff issues.

Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad stated on Thursday that the country has accumulated a trade deficit with the U.S. exceeding 400 billion U.S. dollars over the past 15 years. He criticized the newly announced U.S. tariffs as being politically motivated rather than grounded in economic theory.

In his letter sent earlier to Lula, Trump accused the Brazilian president of politically persecuting former President Jair Bolsonaro and demanded an immediate end to his criminal prosecution.

The Brazilian government has notified the U.S. Embassy in Brazil of its decision to return Trump's letter and summon the acting charge d'affaires to request an explanation regarding the section concerning Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro, who lost the presidential election in October 2022, is currently under investigation by Brazil's Supreme Federal Court.

The probe follows the attacks on January 8, 2023, when Bolsonaro's supporters stormed key government buildings, including the Congress, the Presidential Palace, and the Supreme Federal Court. Prosecutors have charged Bolsonaro and top aides with plotting a coup to overturn the election results through military intervention.

After Trump claimed on social media on Monday that Bolsonaro is "being persecuted," Lula responded that Brazil does not accept any interference in its sovereignty.

Also on Thursday, Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro criticized the new U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods as unjust. He further expressed that Brazil will focus on key markets in the Middle East, South Asia, and the Global South with significant consumption potential as alternative options for exports.

Favaro said he had contacted representatives from the hardest-hit industries, including orange juice, beef, and coffee, to discuss measures for market expansion, trade barrier reduction, and new development opportunities in Brazil's agriculture and livestock sectors.

Brazilian president warns of retaliation if US-Brazil tariff talks fail

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media