Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared on Friday, July 18, 2026, that Brazil would not tolerate any country "disrespecting" the nation following the United States' announcement of new tariffs on Brazilian goods. The U.S. announced on Wednesday it would impose a 25% tariff on certain imports from Brazil, citing unfair trade practices by the world's 10th-largest economy.

During a visit to a mobile women's health unit at the Escola Nacional de Saude Publica in Rio de Janeiro, Lula emphasized that the focus should remain on Brazil's public health system rather than the trade dispute. However, he firmly stated that Brazil "does not accept any other country in the world disrespecting Brazil."

Brazil's government reported that the U.S. tariffs affect about 3,000 items but has yet to decide on retaliatory measures. The response could involve a law passed by Brazil's Congress in 2025, originally enacted in reaction to tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump’s administration.

In an official statement, Lula's office refuted the U.S. claims of unfair trade practices, noting that 76% of imports from the U.S. entered Brazil duty-free in 2025, with an average effective tariff on U.S. products of only 3.1%. The Brazilian government has taken steps to impose reciprocal tariffs and other trade countermeasures through its own legislation and the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement mechanism.

This development marks a continuation of trade tensions between Brazil and the United States, with potential implications for bilateral trade relations.

Sources