Lula says Brics will continue to discuss alternatives to the dollar
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated, on Thursday night (10), that BRICS, a forum that brings together large countries of the so-called global south, will continue to discuss more autonomous mechanisms to boost trade relations. Lula’s statements, granted in two interviews to television channels, take place amidst tensions with the United States, since President Donald Trump announced 50% commercial tariff over all exported Brazilian products.
“BRICS is a forum that occupies half of the world’s population and almost 30% of the world GDP. And 10 BRICS countries participate in the G20 (including Brazil), where Mr. Trump participates (through the US),” said the president in an interview shown by TV Globo’s Jornal Nacional.
“We are tired of being subordinate to the north. We want to have independence in our policies, we want to make more free trade and things are happening wonderfully. We are even discussing the possibility of having a coin of our own, or perhaps with the coins of each country we do trade without having to use the dollar,” added Lula.
Civilized discussion
In another interview, aired by Record TV’s Jornal da Record, Lula also stressed that Trump’s action against Brazil shows his dissatisfaction with the worldwide protagonism of BRICS.
“I am not required to buy dollars to make business with Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Sweden, European Union, China. We can do it in our coins. Why am I forced to be backed by the dollar, which I do not control?
The president emphasized that any disagreement should be discussed at a negotiating table, not with commercial attacks and the sovereignty of countries.
“If he (Trump) had divergence, the correct one would be at a G20 meeting he raises the problem, let’s make a civilized discussion, convince us, let’s argue. What he can’t do is act as if he owns others.”
To Jornal Nacional, Lula explained that, at the moment, he does not intend to call Trump, but will go out in defense of the Brazilian productive sector with the opening of new markets. The president noted that the American’s tone of approach is disrespectful and will not accept this kind of behavior.
“He, for example, could have called Brazil to say as he will take. He did not send any letter, we did not receive a letter. He published on his website, in a total lack of respect, which is his behavior to everyone. And I am not obliged to accept this disrespectful behavior between chief state relations, human relations.”
Maintenance of IOF
Still in the interview with TV Record, Lula announced that he will insist on increasing the tax on financial operations (IOF). According to the president, if the government has to cut $ 10 billion in expenses, as is being projected, the cut will also affect parliamentary amendments.
“The deputy knows that if I have to cut $ 10 billion, I will cut from his amendments too. As they know and I know, it is important to get to a point agreement. I can anticipate for you: I will keep the IOF. If there is an item in the IOF that is wrong, we will take that item, but IOF will continue,” said the president.
“Making a decree is the responsibility of the President of the Republic. And parliamentarians can make a decree-law for them, if they have made any constitutional error, which I did not make,” he added.
Last week, after a historical defeat of the Government in the Legislature, the Supreme Court Minister (STF), Alexandre de Moraes, suspended both the decrees of the executive who raise the IOF and the decree that was approved by the National Congress and to overthrow this measure. To resolve the impasse, Moraes ordered a conciliation hearing between the Federal Government and the National Congress on the subject for July 15, in Brasilia.
