Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed support for Brazil’s efforts to resist external interference during a phone call with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on July 27. The conversation took place amid escalating tensions ahead of Brazil’s presidential election scheduled for October 4, which pits the incumbent Lula against right-wing challenger Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Xi emphasized China’s respect for Brazil’s international status and its role in global affairs, according to Chinese state media. He affirmed Beijing’s backing of Brazil’s sovereignty and independence, underscoring a broader commitment to regional and world peace and stability. The Brazilian presidency’s official statement on the call highlighted mutual agreement on accelerating Mercosur-China trade negotiations but did not directly address mentions of “external interference” reported by Chinese sources.
The dialogue occurred amid increased trade frictions between Brazil and the United States. Washington recently imposed further tariffs on Brazilian goods, including a 12.5 percent increase under Section 301, adding to previous duties initiated in 2025. These measures were introduced following the prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro on charges related to an attempted military coup. Lula critiqued the US tariffs as politically motivated and an attempt to influence Brazil’s electoral process.
In a related diplomatic development, Brazil reportedly denied visas to two US officials seeking to meet with Brazilian election authorities, citing concerns over the integrity of the electoral process. Flavio Bolsonaro has echoed unsubstantiated claims about vulnerabilities in Brazil’s voting system, paralleling disputed assertions from US political figures about the reliability of American elections.
The election contest is widely viewed as a choice between Lula’s established ties with Beijing and Flavio Bolsonaro’s more pro-US stance. Analysts contend that a Bolsonaro victory could realign Brazil closer to Washington, though pragmatic economic relations with China are expected to continue given the extensive trade relationship. China remains Brazil’s largest trading partner, particularly in commodities such as soybeans and beef.
Flavio Bolsonaro has advocated replacing China with the United States as Brazil’s main trading partner, while Lula supports maintaining balanced international relations and opposes drawing Brazil into US-China rivalry. Following a recent visit to Washington, Flavio Bolsonaro met with high-level US officials, including former President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Subsequently, the US government labeled two major Brazilian criminal groups as terrorist organizations and proposed increased tariffs on Brazilian imports.
Experts suggest that regardless of the election outcome, China-Brazil relations are unlikely to suffer significant disruption. The relationship, grounded in strong commercial ties rather than ideological alignment, is expected to persist. According to analysts, even a Bolsonaro administration would likely sustain cooperation with China to safeguard Brazil’s export markets, while managing domestic and foreign policy pressures influenced by US interests.
Polling data shows a close race, with Lula holding a slight lead over Bolsonaro in potential run-off scenarios. The election’s result will shape Brazil’s foreign policy balance amid ongoing global geopolitical shifts.