Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivered a sharp rebuke of the United States on Sunday, accusing Washington of helping to orchestrate past coups in Brazil and warning against what he called attempts at economic coercion under the guise of political pressure.
Speaking at a Workers’ Party gathering in the capital, Lula condemned recent U.S. threats to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports—a move he described as “unacceptable” and akin to blackmail. “Trying to use a political issue to economically sanction us is unacceptable,” Lula declared. “I won’t forget that they have already helped stage a coup here.”
Though Lula did not specify which event he was referring to, observers noted that his comment could allude to several controversial episodes in Brazil’s recent history: the U.S.-backed 1964 military coup, the 2016 impeachment of former President Dilma Rousseff, or the 2022 post-election unrest allegedly encouraged by former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The tariff threat came after former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized what he called a “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro, who is under investigation for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2022 election results. In response, Washington also imposed sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case.
Lula responded forcefully, asserting Brazil’s independence from the U.S. economy. “We are no longer dependent on them. Our global trade partnerships are stronger, and our internal economy is more resilient,” he said.
He also reiterated his call for an alternative to the U.S. dollar in global trade, positioning it as part of a broader effort to resist American dominance. “They want to go back to country-to-country deals where the big dominate the small,” Lula warned. “That’s like a single factory worker negotiating with the boss—it’s never a fair deal.”
At 50%, the proposed tariff would be the highest U.S. import duty levied on any country. Trump has also floated the idea of an additional 10% tariff on all BRICS members, accusing the bloc of seeking to undermine the dollar’s global role.
Brazil, a founding BRICS member alongside Russia, India, and China, has repeatedly denied any intent to sabotage the dollar, pointing instead to what leaders call Washington’s own misuse of its currency’s global status for political ends. The bloc has since expanded to include South Africa, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.
“We have size, we have posture, we have strategic and economic interests,” Lula said. “We want to negotiate—but on equal terms.”
Lula’s remarks signal a deepening rift in U.S.-Brazil relations and reflect growing resistance among Global South nations to what they view as unequal treatment from the West. As tensions mount, Brazil appears determined to chart a more independent foreign and economic policy path.
