Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the U.S. government’s recent imposition of tariffs on Brazilian goods, describing the measures as unfair and strategically counterproductive. In a detailed statement responding to actions taken earlier this month, Lula condemned what he characterized as politically motivated trade restrictions targeting Brazil, which he said risk harming both countries’ economies and undermining longstanding bilateral relations.

The tariffs, ranging from 12.5 percent to 37.5 percent on various Brazilian products, mark a continuation of tensions that began last year when former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods. Lula noted that this initial measure explicitly referenced former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest following a conviction for attempting a coup d’état. Despite subsequent negotiations and interventions, including rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court that dismantled some aspects of the original tariff plan, the new duties were implemented without regard to ongoing dialogue or technical objections raised by Brazil.

Citing data from Global Trade Alert, an independent Swiss organization, Lula highlighted that Brazil and Turkey have become the second most heavily tariffed countries by the United States after China. He pointed out that these actions contrast with the fact that the U.S. has maintained a $428 billion surplus with Brazil in bilateral trade over the past 15 years. The president argued that the tariffs would drive up costs for U.S. consumers in sectors reliant on Brazilian imports—including food, footwear, textiles, furniture, and automotive parts—and potentially disrupt deeply integrated supply chains in the medium term. According to Lula, Brazilian exports to the United States have dropped to their lowest levels since 1997, declining 12.8 percent from the first half of 2025 to the same period in 2026, while trade with the European Union and China grew by 6.1 percent and 15.9 percent, respectively.

Lula framed the dispute within a broader geopolitical critique, declaring that Latin America and the Caribbean require dependable and mutually respectful partnerships rather than military posturing or punitive economic measures. He warned against attempts to divide the region into spheres of influence or to engage in what he called “neocolonial ventures” for strategic resources. The Brazilian leader called for cooperation focused on investment, trade, technology transfer, and combating organized crime to address poverty, hunger, and inequality.

Reflecting on past U.S.-Latin America relations, Lula cited President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor Policy and the inclusion of Latin American countries in the 2008 G20 summit under President George W. Bush as examples when Washington acted in support of regional development.

Lula also rejected recent U.S. allegations against Brazil, dismissing claims used to justify the tariffs as unfounded. He maintained that Brazil’s payment system, PIX, does not discriminate against U.S. companies and serves as a global model for digital public infrastructure. Lula defended Brazil’s efforts to combat environmental crimes and reduce deforestation since 2023, emphasizing the country’s respect for sovereignty and commitment to reciprocity in international relations.

Concluding his remarks, Lula stressed Brazil’s right to determine its own future without external interference or political manipulation and expressed willingness to continue constructive dialogue with the United States to preserve and strengthen ties between the two nations.