By Nandita Bose, Bernardo Caram and Gabriel AraujoWASHINGTON/BRASILIA/SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil's government on Friday downplayed the impact of the 50% tariff U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose on imports from that country,

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva insisted 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 against the nation.

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.