US tariffs ‘strengthen’ Lula against Bolsonaro’s son in upcoming elections

A slew of United States actions against Brazil, including a range of tariffs and sanctions on local criminal gangs, is playing into Brazilian voter sentiment ahead of the presidential elections in October.As incumbent leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva seeks a fourth, non-consecutive term, he will compete against the Liberal Party’s Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison term.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US to impose new 25 percent tariffs on some Brazilian importslist 2 of 3Brazil court bars Bolsonaro’s son from visiting ex-president for 90 dayslist 3 of 3Brazilian football legend Pele’s World Cup shirt sells for $4.9mend of listBrazil will hold the first round of the general election on October 4, with a run-off, should Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro both advance, on October 25.Lula has cast himself as a defender of Brazilian sovereignty in response to US tariffs and sanctions.Last week, the administration of US President Donald Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on many Brazilian goods, the result of a yearlong investigation that alleged Brazil’s trade practices were “unreasonable”.The US argued th...