Brazil’s leftwing president is standing firm against Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariff threat, as Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva seizes the confrontation with Washington to revive his re-election prospects.

Brazil’s President forcefully rebuked Trump after the U.S. leader called the prosecution of Lula’s predecessor, Bolsonaro, a “witch hunt” and hiked tariffs on the Latin American nation.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the U.S. would impose a 50% tariff on all imports from Brazil after a spat this week with his Brazilian counterpart who called him an unwanted "emperor."Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva fired back on Wednesday,