Brazil calls duties ‘unacceptable blackmail’ as other seek talks with US; Trump contradicts reports Putin meeting Zelenskyy was precondition of US-Russia summit. Key US politics stories from Thursday 7 August 2025
Leaders all over the world were attempting to put contingencies in place after Trump’s tariff threats turned to reality at a minute past midnight Washington time on Thursday.
The Brazilian government said it was planning a state aid plan for companies affected while its president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, called the duties “unacceptable blackmail”.
