Lula: “It’s up to Brazil to sell what it makes”

“We will continue traveling the world because we have a lot to offer. It’s up to Brazil to sell what it makes. It must showcase its strengths and what it believes the world should buy.” President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s statement on Saturday (29), during a press conference before departing Hanoi for Brazil, summarizes the Brazilian Federal Government’s stance on this week’s State visits to Japan and Vietnam: Brazil recognizes its strengths, believes in free trade and multilateralism, and values the need for concrete and consistent agreements with international partners.

We are demonstrating that there is nothing better for a country like Brazil than investing in multilateralism. We support free trade; we oppose protectionism.”

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil

Results such as the sale of 15 Embraer jets to All Nippon Airways (ANA) and the opening of the Vietnamese market to beef produced in Brazil were highlighted by the president as indicators of this concept — as well as the leverage of national industry; of culture; of the country's leading role in the energy transition; and that it is actively engaged in the world's key geopolitical discussions. In conversations with heads of State and authorities of the countries with whom he deals, Lula stated that he has taken advantage of the opportunity to “sell” the strategic events that Brazil will host in 2025 — such as the BRICS Summit and the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30).

“We are demonstrating that there is nothing better for a country like Brazil than investing in multilateralism. We support free trade; we oppose protectionism. Holding the COP in the heart of the Amazon is a way to urge the world to recognize the importance of the Amazon. Everyone has opinions about the Amazon, but few truly know it, and we want to showcase it as it is. I have no doubt that we will host the best BRICS summit ever,” the president emphasized.

Check out some of the president's main answers:

MULTILATERALISM AND FREE TRADE — Wherever I go, I make a point of saying that Brazil is neither better nor worse than anyone else is. I make a point of showcasing this new Brazil, one that is free from hatred, not denialist, and respects partners from all countries. We are demonstrating that there is nothing better for a country like Brazil than investing in multilateralism. We support free trade; we oppose protectionism. We want to sell the good things Brazil produces to any country in the world. Brazil is not isolated from Planet Earth: we are connected by land, sea, and air; everyone breathes the same air, everyone shares the same seas, and everyone has more water than land — so we believe that strong partnerships between countries are crucial.

Holding the COP in the heart of the Amazon is a way to urge the world to recognize the importance of the Amazon. Everyone talks about the Amazon, but few truly know it — and we want to showcase it as it is, so that people understand that financing from wealthy countries is crucial to preserving the rainforest.”

COP30 – I always tell people: do not view our COP as if it were in Paris, New York, or London. Instead, look at it as if we were in Belém, Pará, with all the challenges we face. Holding a COP in the heart of the Amazon is a way to urge the world to recognize the importance of the Amazon. Everyone talks about the Amazon, but few truly know it — and we want to showcase it as it is, so that people understand that, in order to keep the rainforest standing, there must be funding from the wealthy countries that have already plundered and degraded the world.

COMMITMENT — I have already invited many countries to COP30. I want the most important figures to participate because wealthy countries often fail to take the climate crisis seriously. The Kyoto Protocol was never fully implemented. Many are rejecting the Paris Agreement. As for Brazil, we are taking it seriously. That is why we do not rely on anyone else to commit to zero deforestation by 2030. That is why we are making a commitment: even with a company like Petrobras, we are investing in the energy transition because we believe that the more clean energy we produce, the greater our chances of reducing fossil fuel consumption.

VIETNAM - MERCOSUR — We must recognize that we can be Vietnam's gateway to Latin America and South America. For us, it is crucial to bring Vietnam into the Mercosur agreement. It is also important for Vietnam to serve as a gateway for Brazil into ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). That alone made my visit worthwhile, as well as the fact that we share common views with Vietnam on multilateralism and the need to reform United Nations governance. We agree that the UN no longer reflects the role it played in 1945, after the Second World War.

We can be Vietnam's gateway to Latin America. For us, it is crucial to bring Vietnam into the Mercosur agreement. It is also important for Vietnam to serve as a gateway for Brazil into ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)."

BEEF, AIRCRAFT, AND TRADE — Japan and Vietnam are key markets for Brazilian beef. Brazilian beef has seen improvements in both quantity and quality. Therefore, today, we owe no one anything when it comes to quality. But that is not all: we aim to sell everything that Brazil has to offer. We are discussing the need to enable Embraer to sell aircraft here. Not all of them; there is a prospect of 50 aircraft. Vietnam could serve as a starting point for 150-passenger Embraer aircraft to access this crucial market, both politically and economically, for ASEAN. We want Brazilian companies to resume their role in building the world. Brazil must compete. If it is up to me, Brazilian companies will return to building bridges, roads, highways, railways, and hydroelectric plants worldwide.

JAPAN — Brazil has maintained a relationship with Japan since 1908 — a 130-year diplomatic history. At one point, we had USD 17 billion in foreign trade flows. So why did it drop to USD 11 billion? We need to understand why. This is the role of the President of the Republic: not only to look after Brazil's domestic interests but also to manage external interests, because foreign relations can facilitate the flow of dollars into Brazil, benefiting Brazilian industry and agriculture.

US TARIFFS — Brazil will seek to negotiate as much as possible, using every tool in its diplomatic arsenal. However, we are prepared to take the matter to the WTO (World Trade Organization), the appropriate forum for resolving trade disputes. If no resolution is reached, Brazil has the right to impose reciprocal measures against the United States. It is that simple. It is not hard.