Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has refused U.S. President Donald Trump's public offer of a call to discuss newly applied tariffs, instead choosing to pursue every legal and diplomatic option — including appeal to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) — to defend Brazil's economic interests.
The latest tension in Brazilian-U.S. relations comes following Washington's imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on Brazilian exports.
The action, in Trump's words, was a reaction to what he called a "witch hunt" against now-tried former President Jair Bolsonaro for an alleged attempted coup after losing the 2022 polls.
On Tuesday, Lula referred to the tariff announcement as "the most regrettable" moment in Brazil-U.S. history and stated that his government had already been in the process of diversifying international trade partnerships — specifically among BRICS countries — long before the change in U.S. policy.
In 2025, we will use any and all means available, beginning with the WTO, in order to protect our interests.Actually, the government was already moving in the direction of reinforcing foreign trade and creating new opportunities for national enterprises before the change in administration in the United States," Lula said.
Declining the idea of calling Trump to resolve the issue personally, Lula stated the U.S. President "does not want to speak." He instead identified other world leaders he plans to call.
"I will call Xi Jinping, I will call Prime Minister Modi. I won't call Putin, because he can't move now. But I will call many Presidents," Lula stated.
The heightened trade conflict comes against the backdrop of wider geopolitical tensions, with the U.S. accusing the BRICS bloc — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — of trying to undermine the supremacy of the U.S. dollar. Trump has retaliated by threatening an extra 10 per cent tariff on nations backing BRICS economic policies.
Nevertheless, Lula indicated that he would maintain diplomatic channels open. In spite of tensions, he stated that Trump would be invited to the COP30 climate summit in November that would be held in the Brazilian city of Belem, in the state of Pará in the north.
I will not invite Trump because he does not want to speak.You can be certain, I will invite Trump to COP30 and listen to his opinion on the issue of the climate. I will be generous enough to call him," Lula said to journalists.
"If he does not come, it is because he does not want to — but it will not be due to lack of education, friendliness, or democracy," he continued.
Though Lula made it clear that Brazil is receptive to bargaining tariffs with the U.S., he reiterated that any discussion must be based on the principles of equality and respect for each other.
Trump, for his part, had informed White House reporters last Friday that the Brazilian president could call him at any time he desired. "He can call me at any time he wants," Trump said, adding that while he liked the people of Brazil, he thought "the people that are running Brazil did the wrong thing.
Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, speaking later in Brasilia, welcomed Trump’s tone. “That’s great,” he remarked. “I’m sure Lula feels the same, and would be willing to receive a call from the U.S. president.”
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