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.

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.

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.