BRASILIA, July 10 (Reuters) - Brazil scrambled to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva convening an urgent cabinet meeting on Thursday as officials worked to de-escalate the crisis.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Thursday that he will impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States if President Donald Trump follows through on a pledge to boost import taxes by 50% over the South American country’s criminal trial against his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Brazil can survive without trade with the US and will look to other partners to replace it, a sharp response to Donald Trump after the American leader threatened 50% tariffs on the South American nation.