WASHINGTON (TNND) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva vowed to impose retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. if President Donald Trump goes through with his plan to increase import taxes by 50% due to the country's treatment of its former president, Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula said he will trigger Brazil's reciprocity law approved by Congress earlier this year if negotiations with the U.S. fail.

“If there’s no negotiation, the reciprocity law will be put to work. If he charges 50 (% tariffs) from us, we will charge 50 from them,” Lula told TV Record in excerpts of an interview that will be fully aired later in the day. “Respect is good. I like to offer mine and I like to receive it.”

Bolsonaro was charged with trying to overturn his 2022 election loss. Trump has described Bolsonaro as a friend and hosted the former Brazilian president at his Mar-a-Lago resort when both were in power in 2020.

“This Trial should not be taking place,” Trump wrote in the letter posted on Truth Social. “It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!”

In the past week, Trump has sent letters to 23 countries so far informing them that the rates on their goods will increase if a trade deal is not made ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline.

However, the comments between Lula and Trump raise the risk of a tariff war between the two countries and imply that Trump is using import taxes to interfere with another nation's domestic politics.

"If there’s one thing a government cannot admit, it’s the interference of one country in another’s sovereignty," Lula said during an interview. "And even more serious, the meddling of a foreign president in Brazil’s justice system. This is the moment for Brazil to show it demands respect on the world stage. And that we won’t tolerate disrespect from anyone."

The president of Brazil's Senate, Sen. Davi Alcolumbre, and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Hugo Motta, a pair of moderates who have recently been at odds with Lula, agreed that the recipricity law gives Brazil “the means ... to protect our sovereignty.”

“We will be ready to act with balance and firmness in defense of our economy, our productive sector, and the protection of Brazilian jobs,” they said in a joint statement.

The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in May that Trump had exceeded his authority by declaring an emergency to impose tariffs without congressional approval. The Trump administration is appealing that decision, but opponents plan to use his Brazil letter to bolster their case.

“This is a brazenly illegal effort by Donald Trump to sacrifice the economy to settle his own personal scores, and it is far outside his legal authority,” said Democratic Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden.

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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.