President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva published an op-ed in The Washington Post on July 26, 2026, denouncing new U.S. tariffs on Brazilian products [3].
The move signals a sharp escalation in diplomatic tension between the two largest economies in the Americas. By taking his grievances to a major American newspaper, Lula is attempting to bypass official channels to challenge the narrative of the U.S. government directly.
Lula said the new trade measures are a "strategic error" [2]. He said the tariffs are based on falsehoods and that the allegations made by Donald Trump are "infundadas," or unfounded [3]. He wrote that "ninguém vai nos derrotar com base em mentiras," which translates to "nobody will defeat us based on lies" [1].
The dispute centers on significant economic pressures. According to reports, the U.S. has implemented a tariff rate of 25% on certain Brazilian products [4], and a rate of 12.5% on other Brazilian goods [4].
Beyond trade, the president used the article to assert Brazil's national sovereignty. He defended the Pix instant payment system and criticized the influence of social networks on political discourse [3]. Lula said the motivations behind the tariffs are rooted in ideological and electoral goals rather than sound economic policy [6].
This public rebuttal follows a series of tensions regarding trade imbalances and digital sovereignty. By framing the tariffs as a tool of misinformation, Lula is positioning Brazil as a victim of unfounded geopolitical narratives while attempting to rally international support for its economic autonomy.
“"Ninguém vai nos derrotar com base em mentiras"”
The use of a high-profile U.S. media platform to challenge trade policy indicates that Brazil views the tariffs not as a negotiable trade dispute, but as a political attack. By linking the economic tariffs to a broader struggle against 'lies' and defending digital infrastructure like Pix, the Brazilian government is signaling a shift toward a more assertive, sovereignist foreign policy in response to U.S. pressure.
