Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he could not accept the way Brazil was treated by the United States this week, after the Trump administration proposed a 25% punitive tariff on many imports from Brazil.
Lula described the tariff proposal as surprising, noting it was unveiled before formal trade discussions between the two governments had finished. He said he left a recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump believing that bilateral relations were on an upswing, and that the tariff announcement ran counter to that expectation.
While reaffirming Brazil's interest in strengthening institutional links with the United States, the president issued a clear warning: if American buyers no longer want to purchase Brazilian goods, Brazil will seek other markets and trade partners. The comment underscores that the Brazilian government views access to foreign buyers as central to its trade strategy.
In addition to his remarks on trade, Lula confirmed he has decided to attend the upcoming G7 summit.
Details and implications
The tariff measure proposed by the U.S. was characterized by Lula as punitive and broad in scope, affecting many categories of Brazilian imports. Lula emphasized the timing of the announcement as noteworthy, saying it preceded the conclusion of dialogue between the two countries.
Despite the dispute over the tariff proposal, Lula stated Brazil still wants to deepen institutional relations with the United States. His comments also framed a conditional stance: continued U.S. market access is important to Brazil, and the country will look elsewhere if that access is reduced.
What Lula said
- He cannot accept the treatment Brazil received from the United States this week.
- He was surprised the tariff measure was announced before trade talks had finished.
- He left a recent meeting with the U.S. president believing bilateral relations were improving.
- Brazil still seeks stronger institutional ties with the U.S., but will pursue other buyers if necessary.
- He will attend the G7 summit.