ISTANBUL

Beijing is willing to collaborate with Brazil to enhance bilateral cooperation in response to what it deems "arbitrary" US tariffs, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.

Wang made these remarks during a phone call with Celso Amorim, chief advisor to the president of Brazil, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The top diplomat emphasized China’s support for Brazil “in defending its right to development and opposing the bullying practices of arbitrary tariffs,” noting that the use of tariffs as a weapon violates the UN Charter and undermines World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

His comments followed US President Donald Trump's recent decision to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, a move he described as a "witch-hunt" against Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of attempting to overturn the 2022 election results won by current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

President Lula da Silva announced on Tuesday that Brazil would utilize all available resources, including the WTO, to protect its interests against the new US tariffs.

“In 2025, we will resort to all possible measures, starting with the WTO, to defend our interests,” said Lula, speaking at an event in Brasilia.

“In fact, the government was already taking action to strengthen foreign trade and generate new opportunities for domestic companies before the change of administration in the United States.”

Tensions between Brazil and the US have escalated following Washington's decision to impose sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for his role in investigating an attempted coup linked to former President Jair Bolsonaro.