US President Donald Trump has offered to call Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at any moment to discuss tariffs and other bilateral issues, but Luiz has adamantly declined. Lula said he would not contact Trump because he “does not want to talk” and called the day the US placed a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports “the most regrettable” in the two nations’ history of relations.
In order to protect Brazil’s interests, Lula stated that he would take all necessary steps, including turning to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Lula emphasized his goal of expanding international trade, particularly with the BRICS nations—China, India, Russia, South Africa, and Brazil. He said he would call BRICS leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Xi Jinping of China, but not Vladimir Putin of Russia, who is now unable to travel. Lula presented this change as a direct reaction to the United States’ increasing threats and penalties against nations that support the BRICS agenda, which the US says weaken the dollar.
Although he left Trump’s attendance open-ended, Lula said he would still phone him to extend an invitation to the COP30 UN climate conference in November in Belem, Para. He said he would do so out of courtesy and to get Trump’s opinion on climate concerns. Reiterating a commitment to national sovereignty and fair trade, Lula emphasized that Brazil is still open to discussing tariffs, but only on the basis of equality and respect for one another.
In a previous statement, Trump claimed Lula could “call me anytime,” expressing his admiration for Brazilians while criticizing the country’s current leaders for their poor choices. Although Lula made it plain that he would not be the one to start negotiations with Trump in the current situation, Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad welcomed Trump’s offer.
Internal Brazilian politics, including a “witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial for allegedly planning a coup, are also connected to the US tariffs and diplomatic tensions. The tension between the two nations has increased as a result of the US imposing penalties on Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Brazilian Supreme Court for his involvement in those probes.
Despite Trump’s open invitation, Lula has chosen to strengthen ties with the BRICS countries and largely sideline dialogue with him, despite maintaining an institutional approach to defend Brazil’s trade interests and a diplomatic gesture through the COP30 invitation. This reflects a significant deterioration in US-Brazil relations.
