 "'Will call Modi, Xi': Defiant Lula vows to deepen ties with Brics over Trump's tariffs on Brazil")
In a sharp rebuke of US President Donald Trump, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared on Tuesday (August 5) that he has no intention of reaching out to his American counterpart. Citing Trump’s apparent disinterest in having a dialogue, Lula described the day the US imposed steep tariffs on Brazil as “the most regrettable” moment in the history of bilateral relations between the two nations.
Instead of engaging with Trump, Lula announced plans to connect with other global leaders, particularly those within the Brics coalition.
‘Will call Jinping, Modi’
“I will call Xi Jinping, I will call Prime Minister Modi. I won’t call Putin, because he can’t travel now. But I will call many presidents,” Lula stated, according to local media reports.
His focus on Brics nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—comes amid warnings from Trump, who has threatened an additional 10 per cent tariff on countries aligning with BRICS policies that he perceives as contrary to US interests.
The root of the frustration lies in the US’s decision to slap a 40 per cent tariff on Brazilian imports, raising the total tariff to a staggering 50 per cent. This move has significantly strained relations between Washington and Brasília. In response, Lula vowed to leverage all available avenues, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), to protect Brazil’s trade interests.
“We will use every tool at our disposal to defend our economy,” he stressed.
The tariff dispute follows mixed signals from both sides. Earlier, Trump had extended an olive branch, saying Lula could “call him anytime” to discuss trade matters. Brazil’s Finance Minister, Fernando Haddad, welcomed the gesture and indicated Lula’s willingness to engage in such a conversation.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHowever, Lula’s latest remarks make it clear that he has no intention of initiating contact, signalling a deepening rift.
Tensions over political developments in Brazil
Beyond trade, tensions have also flared over political developments in Brazil.
The US recently slammed a Brazilian Supreme Court decision to place former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is also a major Trump ally, under house arrest as he awaits trial for allegedly plotting a coup.
The US State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs went so far as to label Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, a “US-sanctioned human rights abuser” under the Magnitsky Act. The US accused Moraes of manipulating Brazil’s judicial system to suppress opposition voices and demanded that Bolsonaro be allowed to speak freely.
Undeterred, Justice de Moraes, who faces US sanctions for alleged human rights violations, affirmed his commitment to continue his judicial duties. “Sanctions or not, I will do my job,” he declared, standing firm in the face of international pressure.
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