Brazilian president in phone call with Trump rejects new US tariffs, urges dialogue
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed strong disagreement with new US tariffs during a phone call with President Donald Trump on Friday, calling for dialogue and consultations to resolve differences, according to a Brazilian government statement. When the two largest economies in the Western Hemisphere enter a tariff confrontation, not only bilateral trade flows but the entire architecture of global trade comes under pressure.
Brazil, as the leader of Latin America, and the United States, as the world's largest economy, could be natural partners, but the new tariffs are turning cooperation into conflict. Lula, known for his diplomatic approach, once again chose the path of negotiations, urging Trump to engage in dialogue. However, Washington's harsh tariff measures leave Brazil with less and less room for manoeuvre, and retaliatory steps have already been launched. This dispute is yet another reminder that in today's world, economic interdependence does not guarantee stability but requires constant diplomatic attention.
During the 1-hour-20-minute call, Lula and Trump discussed bilateral trade, public security cooperation and international conflict situations, the statement said. Lula noted that recent US allegations justifying additional tariffs against Brazil are unfounded, that these tariff measures harm both Brazil and the United States, and that both sides should continue to resolve their differences through dialogue and consultations, the statement read.
On 15 July, the US Trade Representative's office announced that an additional 25 per cent tariff would be imposed on certain Brazilian goods as of 22 July, on top of existing tariffs. On 23 July, citing so called "forced labour," the US imposed new duties ranging from 10 to 12.5 per cent on dozens of countries and regions, including Brazil, in place of expiring global import tariffs. In response, on 13 August, the Brazilian government announced that it would begin retaliatory measures under its Economic Reciprocity Law to counter the new tariff measures imposed by the US government on Brazilian goods.
Trade relations between the US and Brazil have traditionally been complex but stable. However, President Trump's second term has seen a return to aggressive tariff policies aimed at protecting US manufacturing. Brazil, as a major exporter of steel, aluminium, agricultural products and industrial goods, has become one of the main targets. The Economic Reciprocity Law, adopted by Brazil in 2025, allows the government to swiftly impose retaliatory duties in cases of discriminatory measures by other states. This instrument is now being used at full capacity for the first time, indicating the seriousness of Brazil's intention to protect its economic interests.
As CCTV+ reports, the phone call between Lula and Trump demonstrated that the diplomatic channel remains open, but the two sides are still far from mutual understanding. Brazil insists on dialogue, but the imposition of retaliatory measures suggests that patience is running out. In the coming weeks, the world will watch whether this conversation can become the start of de escalation or whether the tariff war between the two largest economies in the Americas will continue, affecting global markets and supply chains.
