Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has firmly stated that he has no relationship with US President Donald Trump, making it clear that Trump may lead the United States, but he is not the “emperor of the world.”
Trump recently imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports, including coffee and beef. While many hoped that bilateral talks could lead to a reduction, Lula’s strong remarks indicate that such relief is unlikely.
In an interview with the BBC, Lula criticized Trump’s trade policy:
“The American people will have to pay the price for the mistakes President Trump is making in relations with Brazil.”
When asked why he hadn’t spoken directly to Trump, Lula responded:
“I did not call because Trump never expressed a desire to talk. The US President never engaged in a polite manner. He simply announced the tariffs on social media.”
Lula Demands UN Security Council Reform
Beyond trade tensions, Lula also called for urgent reforms to the United Nations Security Council, criticizing the dominance of the five permanent members with veto powers. He emphasized that countries representing billions of people—including Brazil, India, Germany, Japan, and Africa—remain unfairly excluded from key decision-making.
Trump’s Tariffs and Bolsonaro’s Conviction
The trade dispute comes at a tense political moment. In July, Trump announced the 50% tariff on Brazil, alleging the Brazilian government was targeting former President Jair Bolsonaro.
On Thursday, Brazil’s Supreme Court convicted Bolsonaro of attempting a coup in 2022 and sentenced him to 27 years in prison, deepening the political divide.
