Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday positioned himself as a defender of multilateralism in an increasingly fractured world and announced plans to consult with fellow BRICS leaders on a potential joint response to the latest round of import tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

“What President Trump is doing is tacit — he wants to dismantle multilateralism, where agreements are made collectively within institutions, and replace it with unilateralism, where he negotiates one-on-one with other countries,” Lula said during a press briefing. “What bargaining power does a small Latin American country have against the United States? None.”

Lula stated that he intends to initiate discussions within the BRICS bloc—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—about a coordinated approach to addressing the economic implications of the tariffs. He added that he would begin outreach on Thursday, starting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by China’s President Xi Jinping and other BRICS leaders.

Coordinated Action Through BRICS

“I’m going to try to discuss with them about how each one is doing in this situation, what the implications are for each country, so we can make a decision,” Lula said. “It’s important to remember that the BRICS have ten countries at the G20,” he added, highlighting the group’s significant influence on the global stage.

Brazil currently holds the rotating presidency of the BRICS coalition. Lula emphasized the need to confront the broader agenda behind the tariffs, which he framed as a direct attack on global institutions.

“I want to talk to our allies about why Trump is attacking multilateralism and what his true goals are,” he said.

Tariffs Escalate Tensions

Trump escalated trade tensions last month by calling the BRICS group “anti-American” during its summit in Rio de Janeiro, warning that a 10% increase in tariffs on goods from member countries could soon follow. Many of the highest tariffs under Trump’s latest measures are concentrated on BRICS economies.

Brazil became a primary target after the U.S. announced 50% tariffs on most Brazilian exports. Trump linked the move to what he labeled a “witch hunt” against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest for violating court orders in connection with an ongoing investigation into the January 8, 2023, riots.

On Wednesday, Trump also threatened an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, citing the country’s continued reliance on Russian oil. This would come on top of existing 25% tariffs.

China and South Africa have also faced steep levies. Chinese goods in particular are subject to multiple layers of tariffs, with some products now facing combined rates of more than 30%.

A Diplomatic Test for Lula

Lula’s response is shaping up to be a significant diplomatic test. While his rhetoric on sovereignty and multilateralism has garnered him praise abroad, a coordinated response with BRICS nations could mark a turning point in how emerging economies collectively push back against U.S. trade aggression.

With Brazil at the helm of the BRICS presidency and facing mounting economic pressure at home due to the tariffs, Lula appears poised to use this moment not only to defend his country’s interests, but to reassert BRICS as a counterweight to U.S. unilateralism.