Romeu Zema, governor of Minas Gerais and presidential candidate for the Novo party, said President Lula’s foreign policy caused a U.S. tariff proposal [1].
The statements come as Brazil faces potential economic pressure from the United States, positioning the trade dispute as a central issue for the 2026 presidential election. Zema is using the crisis to argue for a fundamental shift in how Brazil manages its international relations and internal finances.
In an interview with g1 and GloboNews, Zema addressed the U.S. proposal to apply a 25% additional tariff on Brazilian products [1]. He said the Lula government is responsible for the proposal [2]. Despite his criticism of the current administration, Zema did not spare former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he called a "fanfarrão" — a term meaning a blowhard or braggart [3].
Beyond trade disputes, Zema pivoted to the domestic economy to argue for aggressive spending cuts. He said Brazil needs a fiscal shock to save R$ 1 trillion [4] over a period of 20 years [4]. This proposal is part of his broader platform to implement economic reforms intended to stabilize the national budget.
Zema also linked the trade tensions to the influence of the Bolsonaro family, suggesting that both the current administration and previous alignments contributed to the current volatility [3]. He said that the lack of a consistent, pragmatic foreign policy has left Brazilian exports vulnerable to the whims of U.S. leadership.
The governor's comments highlight a strategy to distance himself from both the left-wing policies of Lula and the populist alignments of the previous administration. By criticizing both the current president and Trump, Zema is attempting to carve out a middle ground focused on fiscal discipline and professional diplomacy.
“"Trump é um fanfarrão."”
Zema is attempting to position himself as the only 'adult in the room' for the 2026 election. By blaming Lula for the tariffs while simultaneously dismissing Trump as a blowhard, he is signaling a departure from the ideological polarization that has defined Brazilian politics. His focus on a multi-decade fiscal target suggests he is pitching a long-term structural overhaul rather than short-term electoral fixes.
