Tensions between Brasília and Washington sharpened after U.S. President Donald Trump branded Brazil “one of the worst trade partners in the world” and said he was unconcerned if the country and the wider region deepen commercial ties with China. Trump’s remarks come on top of a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports that took effect earlier this month and follow his broader escalation of trade measures across Latin America. The diplomatic rift widened further when the U.S. State Department revoked the visas of two Brazilian health officials—Mozart Júlio Tabosa Sales and Alberto Kleiman—accusing them of facilitating forced labour through the Mais Médicos programme’s agreements with Cuba. The step was announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and signals a willingness by Washington to add targeted sanctions to the sweeping tariff already in place. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva dismissed the U.S. moves, telling supporters he “won’t cry” if the United States curtails purchases of Brazilian goods and urging affected officials not to worry about U.S. travel bans. Lula defended Brazil’s cooperation with Cuba, criticised the six-decade U.S. embargo on the island and called Trump a liar who would face legal jeopardy if he were in Brazil. He also attacked lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro—son of former president Jair Bolsonaro—for lobbying in Washington for tougher sanctions, calling the effort a betrayal. Lula said he will lead a trade mission of roughly 500 business executives to India and Southeast Asia and is in talks with China and Russia as part of a wider push to reduce reliance on the U.S. market ahead of Brazil’s 2026 election.
Taxa do Brasil é a mesma de Argentina e Paraguai, mas Trump não se queixa desses países, dizem integrantes do governo Lula https://t.co/RhrB0gzrmo
🚨AGORA: Após Donald Trump afirmar que o Brasil é um dos piores países do mundo, Lula rebateu, chamando o presidente dos Estados Unidos de mentiroso e afirmando que, se Trump estivesse no Brasil, seria preso. https://t.co/jD7wDH6aU2
🇺🇸 El presidente de EU, Donald Trump, afirmó que no le preocupa un potencial acercamiento comercial entre China y países de América Latina, entre ellos Brasil, que busca conectar con otros mercados ante el incremento de aranceles https://t.co/io2W5zv1LF