Brasília, August 6, 2025 — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued a sharp rebuke following the United States’ recent decision to impose high tariffs on Brazilian goods, declaring that he sees no purpose in holding direct talks with President Donald Trump—conversations he believes would amount to “humiliation.”
In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Lula expressed strong disapproval of the U.S. move but clarified that Brazil would not retaliate with reciprocal tariffs. Instead, he emphasized that his administration would continue dialogue at the ministerial level while focusing on strengthening Brazil’s domestic economy to cushion the impact of the U.S. trade restrictions.
“The day my intuition tells me that Trump is ready to talk, I will not hesitate to call him,” Lula said.
He went on to describe the current moment as the worst phase in U.S.-Brazil relations in two centuries, underscoring concerns over Trump’s linkage of tariff relief to the halting of legal proceedings against former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro, currently facing trial for attempting to overturn the 2022 election results, was accused by Lula of inciting foreign interference and betraying national interests.
“The Supreme Court of Brazil is not—and should not be—concerned with what Trump says,” Lula stated. “Bolsonaro must stand trial, not only for his actions domestically, but also because he provoked American interference in our democracy. That makes him a traitor to the homeland.”
President Lula concluded by denouncing Trump’s pressure as an affront to Brazilian sovereignty: “This is not a minor interference. This is the President of the United States believing he can dictate terms to a sovereign nation like Brazil. It is unacceptable.”
