Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he would not initiate trade talks with President Trump after U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods spiked to 50 percent on Wednesday.
“The day my intuition says Trump is ready to talk, I won’t hesitate to call him,” Lula told Reuters from his presidential residence.
“But today my intuition says he doesn’t want to talk. And I won’t humiliate myself,” he added.
Lula has struggled to make headway with Trump, a close ally of his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro faces criminal charges for attempting to overthrow the current Brazilian administration, which Trump cited in his initial announcement about raising tariffs on Brazil.
Lula said he would focus on examining domestic measures to cushion the economic blow, and explore the possibility of a joint response to U.S. tariffs with other nations in the so-called BRICS alliance, made up of Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa and other nations.
“There is no coordination among the BRICS yet, but there will be,” Lula said. “What is the negotiating power of one little country with the United States? None.”
Late last year, BRICS allies proposed the creation of their own currency system at their October summit in Kazan, Russia, where 13 new partner nations were welcomed.
However, Trump slammed the effort and vowed to financially jam countries found to be involved.
“We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“They can go find another ‘sucker!’ There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the U.S. Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America.”
The wedge on trade has been deepened by Trump’s relationship with Bolsonaro.
Amid ongoing legal proceedings, the Trump administration sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for harshening restrictions on Bolsonaro. Lula has remained openly critical of Trump’s intervention in the country’s politics and treatment of fellow world leaders.
“It’s the president of the United States thinking he can dictate rules for a sovereign country like Brazil. It’s unacceptable,” Lula told Reuters.
“What Trump did with Zelensky was humiliation. That’s not normal. What Trump did with Ramaphosa was humiliation. One president can’t be humiliating another. I respect everyone and I demand respect,” he later added, referring to the Ukrainian and South African presidents.
Lula and Trump are expected to cross paths at the United Nations in September or during climate talks in November, which could provide an opportunity for candid conversations.
The Brazilian leader said he will not shy away from discussions but maintained that talks should remain cordial.
