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.

Brazil’s President forcefully rebuked Trump after the U.S. leader called the prosecution of Lula’s predecessor, Bolsonaro, a “witch hunt” and hiked tariffs on the Latin American nation.