Brazil’s Lula Slams Trump’s Tariffs, Vows WTO Action Amid Steel Trade Dispute

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's latest wave of tariffs, warning they could harm the American economy and escalate global trade tensions. Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, Lula condemned Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks, a move set to take effect next week.

Lula also addressed the 25% tariff the Trump administration placed on Brazilian steel and aluminum exports on March 12. Brazil, the second-largest steel exporter to the U.S. after Canada, had previously benefited from tariff-free export quotas, which are now off the table. The Brazilian government has been unsuccessful in renegotiating those terms.

"Protectionism doesn’t help any country in the world," Lula stated. “It will raise the prices of goods and could lead to inflation that he hasn’t yet realised.” He confirmed Brazil would file a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and consider retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.

Lula emphasized that Brazil cannot remain passive in the face of what he called unjust trade measures. “We have two decisions to make. One is to appeal to the WTO, which we will do, and the other is to impose higher tariffs on American products,” he said.

Lula’s remarks came during his trip to Japan, where he met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to strengthen economic and trade relations between Brazil and Japan. The trade tensions between Brazil and the U.S. mark another chapter in the ongoing global trade disputes triggered during Trump’s presidency.

This strong response from Brazil underscores growing international resistance to U.S. protectionist policies and highlights the potential global fallout from escalating trade wars.