‘I won't call Trump’: Brazil's Lula slams US tariffs, reaches out to Modi instead

Brasília: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has firmly rejected the idea of contacting US President Donald Trump amid a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions, sparked by Washington’s recent decision to impose a steep 50% tariff on Brazilian imports.

“I will not call Trump because he does not want to talk,” Lula declared on Tuesday, calling the day the tariffs were imposed “the most regrettable” in US-Brazil relations.

The comment comes days after Trump stated publicly that Lula could "call him anytime" to resolve trade disputes. But Lula, choosing to sidestep Washington, said he would instead engage with other global leaders. “I will call Xi Jinping, I will call Prime Minister Modi. I won’t call Putin because he can’t travel now. But I will call many Presidents,” Lula said, according to Brazilian media.

The leaders Lula named—Modi and Xi—represent key members of BRICS, a bloc the US has grown increasingly wary of. In a recent warning, Trump said nations pushing BRICS-aligned trade policies contrary to US interests would face an additional 10% tariff.

US Tariffs Deepen Rift

The US has slapped an additional 40% tariff on Brazilian imports, bringing the total to 50%. The move has drawn strong condemnation from Brasília. Lula has vowed to take the matter to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and utilize every available diplomatic and legal channel to defend Brazil’s economic interests.

While Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad initially welcomed Trump’s statement and suggested Lula might be open to a call, the President’s latest remarks indicate otherwise.

Bolsonaro Arrest Adds to Strain

Tensions have also surged on the political front. The US condemned Brazil’s Supreme Court for placing former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest ahead of his trial on charges related to plotting a coup.

The US State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs criticized Justice Alexandre de Moraes, calling him a “US-sanctioned human rights abuser” under the Magnitsky Act and accusing him of targeting political opponents.

Justice de Moraes responded defiantly, stating he would not be deterred by US sanctions and would continue performing his duties.

As diplomatic relations deteriorate, Lula's pointed refusal to reach out to Trump signals a major pivot in Brazil’s foreign policy, with growing emphasis on multilateral ties beyond Washington.