Lula Refuses Negotiation with Trump Amid Tariff Tensions, Vows Climate Talks Invitation

Brasilia, August 6, 2025 — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva firmly ruled out any negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, stating that the American leader has shown no interest in dialogue. Lula’s remarks come in response to Trump’s recent imposition of a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods and growing diplomatic strain between the two nations.

“I’m not going to call Trump to negotiate anything, because he doesn’t want to talk,” Lula said in a press interaction. “But rest assured, I will call Trump to invite him to the COP summit because I want to hear what he thinks about the climate issue.”

Lula emphasized he will extend this invitation as a courtesy and will also reach out to other world leaders including China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, he clarified that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not be invited due to current travel restrictions.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated since Trump signed a series of executive actions on July 30, including a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports and a similar levy on certain copper imports. The orders also suspended duty-free shipping benefits for countries exporting low-cost packages to the U.S.

The move appeared to stem more from political friction than economic concerns. According to CNN, Trump’s decision was triggered by Brazil’s ongoing legal proceedings against former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of attempting a coup against Lula’s government.

In a formal letter, Trump accused the Brazilian administration of “serious human rights abuses” and “politically motivated persecution” of Bolsonaro and his supporters. The executive order labeled the legal actions as violations of democratic norms.

Bolsonaro, who once touted his close relationship with Trump, now finds himself at the center of a geopolitical standoff that could further affect Brazil-U.S. relations.

As Brazil prepares to host COP, Lula’s strategic diplomatic outreach appears aimed at shifting the conversation from confrontation to climate cooperation — even if tensions with Washington remain unresolved.