Brazilian President writes article for the “New York Times” and begins with a conciliatory tone, but then American criticism and crew in saying that the US now recognizes that Washington’s consensus has failed
The American newspaper New York Times published this Sunday (14.Set.2025) one of the President (PT). In the text, the petista says he wants to negotiate with (Republican Party), but suggests that the president of the United States is “dishonest” And he accuses him of using tariffs and sanctions only in search of the impunity of the former Brazilian Chief (PL), now for the scam attempt.
Lula begins with a conciliatory tone by proposing a higher conversation channel with the US. But, then, it remained what the White House does by saying that Brazil’s position is finally justified by the fact that the country has always been against the so -called Washington consensus.
“When, in the past, the United States raised the flag of neoliberalism, Brazil warned of its harmful effects. Seeing the White House finally recognizes the limits of the so -called Washington consensus, a minimum political revenue, unrestricted commercial liberalization and widespread deregulation since the 1990s, justified the Brazilian position,”, “ writes the Brazilian president. Read (for subscribers).
Lula simplifies when talking about Washington’s consensus. The set of political recommendations was formulated in the late 1980s and presented in a text by economist John Williamson (1937-2021), from the then IIE (Institute for International Economics), today, a think tank in Washington. He had work before at the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the World Bank, both in the US capital.
Williamson listed policies that were consensual in Washington as desirable for countries to develop. The list included:
- fiscal balancewith elimination of subsidies and more resources for education and health;
- tax reformexpanding the base of tax payers;
- floating interestletting the market decide the fees;
- unified exchangewithout distorted rates to favor sectors;
- Liberation of Traderemoving barriers to imports;
- Foreign Investment Releasefacilitating the entry of capital;
- Privatization of Statetaking the state of the productive system;
- deregulationremoving excessive rules that complicated business.
Williamson in 2004 in the World Bank that said the list was recommendations, not impositions. It also rejected the label of neoliberalism of the proposals.
The main objective of consensus was to guide poorer countries on how to adopt reforms aimed at macroeconomic stabilization and commercial opening.
For Lula, the 50% tariff imposed by Donald Trump against some products in Brazil is “mistaken” e “illogical”. By justifying these classifications, the petista cites those Brazil has with the US. It also states that the country is not subject to “High rates” by Brazil.
It turns out that the US, with Trump and even before, understand that there is Brazil’s high level of protectionism on US products. THE Poder360 It has already been dealing with this theme.
Ethanol, for example, has a 20%Brazilian import fee, while the United States charge 2.5%. This level of disparity is observed on several other items.
One from the United States Trade Representative (United States Trade), or USA 2025, says that the tariff barriers or not in Brazil result in an estimated $ 8 billion impact against the US: the US would stop selling $ 3 billion a year because of the Brazilian import tariff), alcohol ($ 1.5 billion), products, products Remanufactured (US $ 2 billion) and customs barriers ($ 1.5 billion).
For Lula, there “Lack of economic justification” in the tariff. The president says in the article that the measures imposed against Brazil have a clear motivation “policy”.
“The US government is using tariffs and the magnitsky law to seek impunity for former President Jair Bolsonaro, who orchestrated a failed attempt on January 8, 2023, in an effort to subvert popular will expressed at the polls,” writes the petista.
Lula also says he is “proud” of the decision of the Supreme Court (STF) that on Thursday (11.Set) Bolsonaro, 70, and 7 other defendants for attempted coup.
According to the president, the trial was based on “Months of investigations” e “It was not a” witch hunt “” -Refering the expression to deal with this case.
By citing the regulation of social networks, Lula says he is “dishonest” talk about this theme as if it were a “censorship”. And complete: “The internet cannot be a land of illegality, where pedophiles and abusers are free to attack our children and adolescents.”
The Brazilian president ends the text stating that he is open to negotiating. He says ideological differences do not prevent 2 governments from working together.
“President Trump, we are still open to negotiating anything that can bring mutual benefits. But the democracy and sovereignty of Brazil are not at stake. In his 1st speech to the United Nations General Assembly, in 2017, he said that“ strong and sovereign nations allow different countries, cultures and dreams, not only coexist, but work based on mutual respect. ” The relationship between Brazil and the United States: two great nations capable of respecting and cooperating for the good of Brazilians and Americans ”, he writes.
