During a video filmed while he was tending to grapevines, an agricultural product recently subject to tariffs, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed Donald Trump, expressing hope that he would one day visit Brazil to experience the true essence of the country—a place brimming with samba, carnival, and football, as well as good relations with the United States, China, Russia, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
The tariffs imposed on Brazil are among the highest applied to any U.S. trading partner, sitting at 50%. In contrast to measures taken against other nations, these tariffs were framed in overt political language, with the Republican president stating that the tariffs were a response to what he perceived as a “fierce campaign” against his former ally, Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro is currently facing trial for allegedly attempting a coup against Lula in 2022. Recently, the United States imposed sanctions on the judge overseeing the case, as well as seven other judges in the Supreme Court.
Lula expressed his support for the Supreme Court and reaffirmed his commitment to defending the “sovereignty of the Brazilian people.” His administration also vowed to combat the tariffs initiated by Trump.
These tariffs, which affect several key exports from the largest economy in Latin America, impact the longstanding trade relationship between the U.S. and Brazil. Brazil estimated its trade surplus to be approximately $284 million last year.
Lula highlighted, via the platform X, an example of “planting food rather than sowing violence or hatred.”
Despite the harsh tariffs, the economic impact on Brazil could be limited. Trump’s executive order exempted 694 products, including essential items such as orange juice, iron ore, and aircraft which the U.S. finds difficult to source from elsewhere.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Brazil indicates that these exemptions account for about 43% of Brazil’s total exports to the U.S.