Brazil, China call for stronger push against US tariff-led unilateralist onslaught
The Brazilian and Chinese leaders have held a high-stakes phone call as part of what observers call efforts to further empower the Global South’s fight against the US tariff-led unilateralist onslaught.
During the conversation that took place on Tuesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping mapped out deeper economic cooperation and vowed to wield the BRICS intergovernmental organization and the G20 international forum as spearheads in defending multilateralism.
Renewing tariff threats, Trump claims BRICS would end if it forms meaningfully https://t.co/nHqggxeFb6
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) July 19, 2025
Xi made indirect references to the United States' accelerated push under Donald Trump to impose a unilateralist chokehold on the international community.
The drive has seen the American president issue an avalanche of heavy-handed tariffs against numerous countries, even Washington’s own traditional allies, threaten even heftier tariffs, and smear the BRICS as an “anti-American” bloc.
Lula, who had already begun rallying the BRICS nations to confront Trump’s tariff threats – including through a recent similar phone call with Indian Prime Minister Nrendra Modi – made it clear that Brazil would not stand idle amid the situation.
Modi and Lula discuss Trump's tariffs amid strained trade relations with US https://t.co/EBANRrL0mz
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) August 8, 2025
Xi, for his part, told Lula that Beijing and Brasília could “set an example of unity and self-reliance among major countries in the Global South,” and work together to “build a more just world and more sustainable planet.”
Beyond trade: Building a Global South power axis
Both leaders underscored that “all countries should unite and firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism,” a statement widely read as a direct challenge to Trump’s protectionist crusade.
Lula’s office said the call also spanned issues far beyond tariffs, including climate change and joint ventures in health, oil and gas, the digital economy, and satellite technology.
Experts described the call as a sign of enhanced rapport built up between the BRICS member states, chief among them their main constituent nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – to cement their alliances to try to rewrite the rules of global power in favor of the Global South.
They also noted that the optimized interaction signaled that any attack on one BRICS member would be met with a coordinated and strategic pushback on the part of the entire bloc.
China deploys largest naval force yet amid Japan’s buildup near Taiwan
Hong Kong arrests 8 after deadly tower blaze that left 128 dead
Iran denounces terrorist attack on Tajik-Afghan border
Hezbollah chief: Lebanon faces ‘dangerous, expansionist’ Israeli aggression
Israeli reservist ends his life after participation in Gaza genocide
Israel is the ‘troublemaker’ in region, Saudi Prince Turki says
Threatening Iraq's sovereignty, US opens world’s largest consulate in Erbil
US Navy struck by Yemen: USS Truman disasters expose combat strain
Putin, Modi sign landmark deals to cement strategic partnership
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
IRGC Navy launches ballistic, cruise missile during major drill
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
