Lula Refuses to Call Trump as Tariff Row and Sanctions Deepen Brazil-US Rift
Amid escalating diplomatic tensions with Washington, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday said he will not reach out to U.S. President Donald Trump.
He declared: “I will not call Trump because he does not want to talk.” The comment, first reported by Reuters, comes in the wake of a significant deterioration in Brazil-U.S. ties.
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| File Photo Source: exame on X |
While Trump had earlier stated that Lula was welcome to contact him “anytime” to resolve trade disputes, Lula has made it clear that he will not initiate the conversation.
Brazil’s finance minister, Fernando Haddad, had described Trump’s stated openness as “great,” adding that Lula would be open to a call.
However, Lula's latest statement signals a hardened posture, as Brazil absorbs both economic and political pressure from Washington.
The tensions extend beyond trade. Last week, the United States sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes under the Global Magnitsky Act, accusing him of human rights violations during the high-profile trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
The sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets and prohibit Americans from doing business with him.
Justice de Moraes, who is overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial for allegedly plotting a coup following his 2022 election loss, has rejected the charges and vowed to continue his judicial responsibilities undeterred.
Lula’s government responded sharply to the U.S. sanctions, calling them an “interference in the Brazilian justice system.”
In a previous statement, the Brazilian president had said: “The Brazilian government stands in solidarity with (de Moraes), who is the target of sanctions motivated by the actions of Brazilian politicians who betray our country and our people.”
The U.S. Treasury accused de Moraes of spearheading politically motivated prosecutions, detaining opponents, and restricting free speech.
The Bolsonaro camp, including his allies and son Eduardo Bolsonaro, has long claimed the trials are a “witch-hunt.”
The case against Bolsonaro includes charges of conspiracy, abuse of office, and electoral disinformation. He is currently under house arrest.
The broader context underscores the ideological divergence between the two administrations. Harvard political scientist Steven Levitsky noted the resurgence of Trump-Bolsonaro alignment, stating: “This is a personalistic government that is adopting policies according to Trump’s whims.”
In a last-ditch effort to ease the strain, a Brazilian senatorial delegation visited Washington last month. However, sources said they struggled to access key White House officials, and many U.S. positions on Brazil appeared “ideologically charged.”
Meanwhile, Brazil has firmly rejected accusations of judicial overreach, emphasizing that its judiciary operates independently.
De Moraes himself dismissed the sanctions as irrelevant and pledged to continue his duties “without intimidation.”
With the 50% tariff hike now in effect and diplomatic backchannels fraying, Brazil's hopes of de-escalation appear dim--at least for now.