• Brazil's President Lula rejects direct contact with Trump regarding new 50% tariffs.
• The tariffs affect approximately 36% of Brazilian exports to the U.S.
• Lula plans to engage with other leaders like Xi Jinping and Modi for alternative solutions.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has stated he will not engage directly with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the recent 50% tariffs imposed on Brazilian goods. He believes that such discussions would result in a "humiliation" for himself, and he expressed, "I won't humiliate myself," indicating a firm stance against initiating contact with Trump, who he perceives as unwilling to negotiate seriously, according to Reuters and India Times.

The newly implemented tariffs, which are projected to impact nearly 36% of Brazil's exports to the U.S., have prompted Brazil to file for formal consultations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Brazilian officials are seeking relief from these tariffs, which they believe violate international trade rules, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Anadolu Agency.

Lula has emphasized that while he is open to cabinet-level discussions, he finds it unnecessary to initiate a conversation with Trump. He criticized U.S.-Brazil relations, claiming they are at a 200-year low due to Trump's pressure linked to the ongoing trial of right-wing former President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces accusations of plotting to overturn the 2022 election. Lula stated that Brazil’s Supreme Court must act independently and should disregard Trump's influence, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

To counter the ramifications of the tariffs, Lula plans to discuss responses with leaders from the BRICS group, particularly India's Modi and China’s Xi Jinping, seeking collective action against U.S. tariffs. Lula also outlined intentions to reform Brazil’s mining policies as a matter of national sovereignty, which could potentially provide economic benefits amidst the current trade disputes, as noted by TRT World and India Times.