Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Thursday that his government has not been successful in trying to negotiate the 50% tariff on Brazilian imports that U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threat against Brazil has sparked political turmoil. Trump linked a 50% import tax to the trial of his ally, Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro, calling it a “witch hunt.

Brazil is scrambling to avert punishing 50% U.S. tariffs in a week's time, but high level talks are stalled and U.S. companies are reluctant to confront U.S. President Donald Trump over the issue, officials and industry leaders say.