Chinese dictator Xi Jinping pledged Beijing’s support for Brazil in resisting U.S. trade pressure during a phone call Monday with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The discussion came as Brazil’s relationship with Washington deteriorates over President Donald Trump’s push for a new trade deal tied to human rights demands.
According to China’s state-run Xinhua, Xi told Lula that China “backs the Brazilian people in defending their national sovereignty” and stands ready to oppose “unilateralism and protectionism,” language widely interpreted as aimed at Trump’s tariff policies. Xi praised China-Brazil ties as being “at their best in history” and promoted cooperation within BRICS, the economic bloc that includes Russia, India, and South Africa.
The call followed Lula’s public refusal to speak directly with Trump about a trade agreement, instead stating he would call Xi for support. Trump in April announced a major overhaul of trade relations, warning Brazil it faced tariffs unless it addressed human rights concerns, particularly the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro and suppression of conservative voices. Last week, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods and sanctioned Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Brazil’s economic ties to China have grown sharply, with $57.6 billion in exports to China from January to July 2025, largely agricultural products like soybeans. Lula appears to be seeking deeper economic integration with China to offset potential U.S. trade losses. Brazilian media reports suggest Lula is considering retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, though the nation’s business community warns such a move could harm its economy.
Lula’s statement on the Xi call emphasized cooperation on health, oil and gas, satellites, and the digital economy, along with climate talks and the war in Ukraine. However, Beijing’s version of the conversation leaned heavily on framing the partnership as a united front against U.S. trade measures.
