Lula da Silva says U.S. "chose to manipulate such an important issue" over forced‑labor tariffs

The Trump administration imposed new tariffs on 18 Latin American and Caribbean nations this week, with rates of 10% or 12.5% tied to an investigation into whether those countries effectively ban imports made with forced labor. Brazil, hit with the higher rate, denounced the decision. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration accused Washington of using forced-labor concerns as a cover for protectionist trade policy, asserting that the U.S. “chose to manipulate such an important issue” to justify the new duties. The Brazilian government noted that its exports already face a separate 25% tariff from a different probe, potentially pushing cumulative levies on some goods as high as 37.5%, according to an American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil analysis. Other affected countries responded variously: Uruguay called the outcome within expectations, Mexico downplayed the impact, Chile vowed to negotiate removal, and Argentina, Colombia, and others had not yet issued formal statements. The broader set of economies targeted includes major partners like China, the EU, and Japan.