Brazil Urges Trump to Treat All Countries Equally on Trade Tariffs

US President Donald Trump intends to impose a global tariff of 15 per cent, up from the 10 per cent announced the previous day. In response, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged Trump to treat all countries equally.

“I want to say to US President Donald Trump that we do not want a new Cold War. We do not want interference in other countries; we want all nations to be treated equally,” Lula told reporters in New Delhi, as reported by AFP on Sunday (22/2/2026).

The conservative-majority US Supreme Court ruled six to three that the 1977 law relied upon by Trump to impose sudden levies on specific countries — disrupting global trade — “does not authorise the President to impose tariffs”.

Lula said he did not wish to comment on the Supreme Court decision of another country but expressed hope that Brazil’s relationship with the United States “will return to normal” soon.

The veteran left-wing Brazilian leader is expected to travel to Washington next month to meet with Trump.

“I am confident that Brazil-US relations will return to normal after our conversation,” Lula said.

He added that Brazil simply wants “to live in peace, create jobs, and improve the lives of our people”.

Relations between Brazil and the United States appear to be improving after months of hostility between Washington and Brasília. As a result, the Trump administration has exempted Brazil’s key exports from the 40 per cent tariffs imposed on the South American nation last year.

“The world does not need more turmoil; the world needs peace,” said Lula, who arrived in India on Wednesday to attend a summit on artificial intelligence.