Brazil’s Lula Criticises Trump’s Proposed Strait of Hormuz Tariff as ‘Piracy’
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has strongly criticised US President Donald Trump's proposal to impose a 20 percent tariff on goods transported through the Strait of Hormuz, describing the plan as "piracy."
Speaking at a public event in São Paulo, Lula said the United States had historically fought piracy and should not adopt policies that resemble it.
Trump announced the proposed tariff alongside plans to reimpose a naval blockade on Iran, arguing that commercial vessels using the Strait of Hormuz should contribute to the cost of maintaining freedom of navigation after Iran threatened to close the strategic waterway.
The proposal has attracted global attention because the Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping route for international oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Analysts warn that additional transit costs or disruptions could have significant effects on global trade and energy markets.
