China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that using trade as a tool to suppress nations is a violation of the UN Charter.
China has criticized the United States for its decision to impose “unsustainable” tariffs on Brazil. These tariffs were initiated by President Donald Trump in response to the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro and continued cooperation within the BRICS economic group.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed that Beijing “firmly supports Brazil in safeguarding its national sovereignty and national dignity,” and “opposes unwarranted external interference in Brazil’s internal affairs.”
He further stated that China supports Brazil in “resisting the bullying imposition of tariff measures” and in strengthening cooperation among Global South countries, particularly through the BRICS framework.
During a phone call with Celso Amorim, a senior adviser to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Wang Yi conveyed that “using tariffs as a weapon to suppress other countries violates the UN Charter, undermines WTO rules, and is both unpopular and unsustainable.”
In late July, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on all goods from Brazil, citing a perceived threat to “the national security” of the US. The US leader has expressed particular concern over the prosecution of former right-wing Brazilian President Bolsonaro, who is facing trial for allegedly plotting a coup following his 2022 election defeat.
Trump has also been a frequent critic of BRICS, accusing the group of attempting to weaken the global dominance of the dollar. While BRICS lacks a common currency, most transactions between its members are conducted in their respective national currencies.
Lula responded to Trump by stating that he is not “the emperor of the world,” and later suggested a BRICS meeting to formulate a joint response to the US.
Brazil was not the only country facing pressure from Trump. On Wednesday, the US leader indicated that similar tariffs to the 25% increase in duties for India could be imposed on China. Trump previously criticized both countries for importing Russian oil amid the Ukraine conflict.
Moscow has rejected Trump’s threats, asserting that any sovereign nation has the right to choose its trading partners.