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- Lula refuses to meet Trump without signs of good faith in future tariff negotiations.
- India was hit with a 25% tariff hike, pushing total U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 50%.
Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has rejected direct negotiations on the high tariffs with American president Donald Trump. Lula told Reuters in an interview that he would refuse to participate in what he described as a humiliating negotiation process.
According to him, Trump had not been receptive to any discussion about the tariff rises, and Brazil would not bring itself to the point of begging to be treated fairly. According to Lula, any engagement with the U.S. president would depend on a clear willingness to negotiate in good faith.
Trump has also imposed an additional 25% tariff on exports to India, bringing the tariffs to 50%, similar to the existing U.S. rate on Brazilian goods. The White House confirmed no changes to tariffs on Chinese imports, which remain paused. Russia has been experiencing a tariff rate of more than 30%. Trump referred to the BRICS bloc as “anti-American” and issued a threat of a 10% tariff on this bloc in general.
According to Lula, Trump’s tariff strategy weakens multilateral institutions by replacing collective decision-making with unidirectional actions. He said the approach undermines global trade rules and promotes one-on-one power-based negotiations.
Lula stated that BRICS must consider a collective response, noting that individual country talks have failed to stop the escalation.
India and China Targeted Heavily as U.S. Trade Pressure Mounts
Lula announced plans to reach out to fellow BRICS leaders to address Trump’s latest tariff actions. He will call Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, followed by China’s Xi Jinping and other bloc members. Lula said the purpose is to evaluate each country’s position before deciding on a coordinated strategy. While Brazil is not imposing retaliatory tariffs now, Lula indicated the situation remains fluid.
Lula stated that BRICS would hold talks on the matter, emphasizing the need for a united stance. He said the group must examine how Trump’s policies affect each member and what actions could counterbalance the pressure. The announcement comes as India absorbs the impact of the new U.S. tariffs, which take effect August 27. Indian officials issued a statement calling the decision “unjustified” and accused the U.S. of unfair treatment.
In addition, India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that its import practices are based on market conditions and national energy security. The ministry said the tariffs penalize India for actions common to other nations. Officials expressed concern that these measures would strain the country’s efforts to build stronger trade ties with the United States.
U.S. Tariff Escalations Spark Global Pushback Before Deadline
Trump has implemented several trade actions over the past few days as a deadline he set for himself approaches. In addition to the new tariffs on Indian goods, the U.S. has increased Brazilian tariffs to an astonishing 50% and charged 35% on Canadian goods.
A separate 15% tariff on goods from the European Union has also been finalized. Such actions have been met by backlashes from the nations affected and the debate about widespread trade restructuring.
Furthermore, Russia has expressed support for a joint BRICS response. The Kremlin has criticized the rising U.S. tariffs and ongoing attempts to fragment international trade frameworks. While some BRICS nations, including India and China, have previously explored separate trade deals with Washington, analysts indicate those talks may no longer be practical without bloc-wide coordination.
