Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticised US President Donald Trump for suggesting a new round of tariffs against Brazil while negotiations between the two countries remain in progress.
Speaking after the conclusion of the G7 summit in Évian, France, Lula described Trump's move as disrespectful toward Brazil. He argued that the tariff warning came while both governments were already working toward an agreement.
Lula said he did not request a bilateral meeting with Trump during the summit because the negotiating process had not yet ended. In his view, a separate presidential meeting was unnecessary while officials from both countries were still trying to reach an understanding.
The Brazilian president nevertheless left open the possibility of renewed direct contact. He said that, if the talks conclude without an agreement, he would be willing to telephone Trump and arrange another conversation.
Lula presented negotiation as a central part of his political experience and said he had spent much of his public life dealing with powerful counterparts. His remarks combined a firm rejection of the tariff warning with a willingness to continue dialogue.
The exchange highlights the tension surrounding the current Brazil-US negotiations. Lula's position is that political pressure should not replace the talks already under way, but he has not ruled out direct presidential intervention if the existing channel fails.
